Bertie County’s dedication and support for the 31st annual Relay for Life was apparent as an estimated crowd of almost 400 people came together to continue the fight to beat cancer.
This year, the weather cooperated offering a delightfully warm evening inviting a wide selection of food, activities, support and friendship to all that gathered to share stories, listen and walk for the cure.
Ahmend Vaughan and Doug Jernigan welcomed the guests and Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin and Bertie County Commission Vice Chair Ron Roberson offered greetings and words of encouragement to all in attendance.
The survivors speaker, the Rev. Dr. Delina Davis-Cooley, Pa-C, PHD, gave a moving message of support, strength, strong beliefs and self-advocacy. Davis-Cooley is highly revered in the medical community specializing in internal medicine in the area for the past 33 years.
She shared her caregiver story after her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Davis-Cooley recalled how her faith guided her through each day during her husband’s treatment. Today her husband is cancer free. Davis-Cooley went on to encourage check ups while continuing to have faith in God.
“Most of you know me as a physician assistant that’s been in the community for over 33 years.
Some of you know me as a minister. Some of you know me as the basketball mom, but in any event, you know what? I’m here to speak as a caregiver today to let you know that we are survivors. And I’m just so proud and so delighted to be a part of you today.
“You know, as a physician assistant, I want to say to the teachers, and encourage you, get your screenings. Get your colonoscopy. Get your breast exam. Get your prostate exam. Now healthcare has changed tremendously,” advised Davis-Cooley.
She explained the strides cancer diagnosis and treatment for the disease has made.
“Now, all I can do is I can bring you in the room and ask you a bunch of questions and don’t even have to put my hands on you. I want to encourage you to be your own advocate,” she said.
Davis-Cooley encouraged everyone to get touched.
“Yes, touch me. Yes, I do want my breast exam. Yes, I do want my pap smear. Yes, I do want my prostate check. Yes, I do want my colonoscopy. What do I need to do to stop smoking? Cry out. The time is now and I don’t want to lose anybody to cancer. Early detection is the key to survival. When we find it early and we do our screenings, we can have long life and long health,” David-Cooley said.
Waiting until symptoms appear rapidly reduces the survival rate according to statistics.
“Unfortunately, blacks are at a disproportionate rate and are dying at a higher rate than our white counterparts. And this should not be. Unfortunately, there’s still a healthcare disparity. One is just because we simply don’t go and get checked,” she said.
“So I want to encourage you today. Everyone, regardless of the color of your skin, your ethnic background, you go. Be an advocate for your health. Okay? So we can no longer say we don’t have knowledge of the truth. Get your screening,” explained David-Cooley in closing.
Master of Ceremonies Norman Cherry’s take away message for the evening was “Get Checked Up.”
While the Relay For Life fundraising project is underway and a large portion of funds will not come in until September when fundraising ends, currently the organization has raised $137,230.15 of their 2024 $200,000 goal.
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