Sara (Mama) Atkins is a 10-year breast cancer survivor. She particiated at the Greer Relay for Life this weekend supported by her family and friends.
Harriet and George Stram stroll around the track as the luminarias were lit.
Ashlan Hardin takes photos of lumanarias of family loved ones they were honoring at the Greer Relay fof Life.
Members of the Greer High School played during Friday night's ceremonies at the Greer Relay for Life event.
Mama, as she is widely known in the Greer community, didn’t accept the findings of her mammogram and requested a biopsy of a suspicious area. “I just didn’t feel right. My body just didn’t feel the same.”
Chemotherapy and radiation treatments, four each, gave her a new lease on life and she’s been going strong since. “Attitude determines a lot how you do,” Mama said. “I also got a lot of support from my friends and family and a lot of prayers.”
Leigh Clement walked up to Mama for a hug and to promote her friend’s pound cake as the best. Mama enjoyed the compliment and was asked what made it special. “I put in six flavorings,” she said. “I use real butter, vanilla, lemon, almond, walnut and maple nut.”
Mama’s story was one of thousands represented by luminarias remembering survivors past and present. Just as many memories were shared on the field as hundreds gathered for fundraising, promoting Relay for Life, and sharing their stories through poems, letters and music.
Mark Hardin and his daughter, Ashlan, were observing luminarias honoring his grandmother, Edna Batson, mother, JoAnn Hardin, and godmother, Mitzi Moore. “My mother had breast cancer and had outpatient surgery. They found a second place a little after that and she had surgery to eliminate two lymph nodes.”
There were nearly 400 participants and 41 teams raising money for cancer.