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Couple to lead survivor lap at Mundelein Relay
Michelle and Patti Bries | Contributed photo
WHAT: Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills Relay for Life
WHEN: June 2, 2012
WHERE: Carmel High School, 1 Carmel Parkway, Mundelein
TEAM NAME: Hollister Hopefuls
TEAM GOAL: $10,000
Updated: June 5, 2012 12:28PM
Vernon Hills resident Joyce McGuiggan will celebrate her 10th year walking in Relay for Life this year when she participates in the June 2 Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills Relay for Life at Carmel High School in Mundelein. It will be her second time on the survivor’s lap.
Both Joyce and her husband, Tom, were diagnosed with different cancers in late 2009 and early 2010. A member of the Hollister Hopefuls team, Joyce originally walked in memory of her grandmother, who passed away from cancer, and in 2009 Joyce was diagnosed with the disease. Tom was diagnosed with urethral cancer – a rare form of cancer – in 2010.
“You just never know,” Joyce said. “When I was diagnosed, and then Tom told me about his diagnosis, I just thought, ‘This is unbelievable, this can’t be.’ ”
Since their surgeries, Joyce and Tom have been cancer free for more than a year, she said.
“In terms of cancer, we are out of the woods, so to speak – we’re good,” Joyce said.
She and Tom will be the honorary survivors at this year’s relay, kicking off the survivor’s lap.
“Relay has always just brought people together,” Joyce said. “It is a very unifying thing. Everybody who is there wants to be there and is there to support one another.”
