Cancer survivors, family, friends, and other supporters came together for the survivors' ceremony at Tamaqua Senior High School on Saturday, capping off the Relay for Life with a celebration of strength and hope.

While the Relay experienced some tough conditions due to rain on Friday, many still weathered the storm in order to support the American Cancer Society's flagship event. Saturday offered more inviting conditions for the closing ceremonies, drawing dozens to a series of speeches, songs, and a butterfly release."We're celebrating another birthday for them," Relay organizer Judi Musselman said of the survivors at the ceremony. "The skies are working with us, they're blue and beautiful, the sun is shining, it's a good feeling."Following an introductory prayer of hope, Musselman read a quote from Elizabeth Kubler Ross, which states that the most beautiful people in the world are those who have experienced defeat, the difficulties of struggling, and the feeling of loss, yet have made their way out of the depths."These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep, loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen," she read.Next, the Relay Singers, a group of survivors and supporters, took to the tent to perform "Everybody's Going Through Something.""Our survivors and caregivers are beautiful people. You are beautiful people," Musselman said, extending upon the Ross quote. "This weekend, we had wonderful and beautiful people join together and form teams, and camp out in the rain in our town of Tamaqua. They are here to support, honor, and remember loved ones, and friends affected by this disease. Our survivors' ceremony is for us to share in the celebration. We celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, and give strength to those survivors who continue the fight. You inspire us all."Guest speaker Nancy Paisley shared her personal and harrowing experience with cancer throughout the years. Paisley's mother went through inflammatory breast cancer, and her sister later found herself to have the same condition. After a worrying bout with stomach pains, Paisley went to several physicians to find what was wrong. Though they found a spot on her lung, she was told not to worry about it but she still did. Eventually, after securing an appointment with a physician in Wilkes-Barre, she found what she feared the most - it was cancer."Two weeks before Christmas I had my surgery," she said. "That morning, of course, we had the most horrible snowstorm. My husband got us to Wilkes-Barre at 5 a.m. I couldn't see the road the entire way, I don't know if it was the snow or the fact that I was crying."The surgery was successful, though Paisley had to have a third of her lung removed. It was painful to breath during recovery, let alone cough or sneeze. She made it through, though, and has been cancer free ever since."My sister put up the toughest fight I've ever seen. I was lucky to have her by my side. She beat the odds for her cancer, she lived nine and a half years. She passed away last March. Cancer changed me, my world, several times, but it also made me who I am today. So, remember, it's your body. If you have a gut feeling, get it checked. Get another opinion. Get a third opinion. Don't listen to the doctors all of the time. Do what is in your gut. Live your life, spend your time with family and friends. And don't hold on to prejudice, life is too short," she said.Rounding out the ceremony, survivors were called up to tell their names, and share a little about their experience. Some kept to just identifying their particular cancer, while other offered some advice and thoughts."I'm a lung cancer survivor, Don't smoke," Cary Sinclair, a long time member of the American Cancer Society, said. "I was one of the fortunate ones, and they caught mine early. So, please keep getting your checkups. I did not need chemo or radiation because of early detection. So please, don't smoke, and keep us all in your prayers."After survivors and supporters took to the track, the groups set off on opposite paths, meeting in the center of the bleachers on the other side."You meet a lot of nice friends, and you hope to see them next year. It's wonderful to see all of these survivors," Rose Mikulski, who helped carry the survivors' banner, said. "I'm a survivor, 31 years, thyroid cancer. There is always hope. Make every day your best day."Following the walk,Volunteers Erla Biasi and Marsha Resch handled the butterfly release, pre-empting the ceremony with the reading of some inspirational poetry to mark the event. The butterflies are meant to take a wish from those who release them along with them when they fly off.After distributing the butterflies, which were held in small paper triangles, the crowd set them free."I think the butterfly release is very inspirational to people. It gives people the opportunity for a little bit of closure, to reflect on the previous year, whether they lost somebody or they're fighting cancer themselves. It makes them feel better, seeing the butterfly take flight," Resch said.Biasi attracted quite a few butterflies, which seemed to take a liking to her."I enjoyed it," she said. "It's very spiritual, having the butterflies, setting them off, making your wish, and they take your wish along with it. I feel wonderful, in tune with nature. It's very positive."One could see a number of butterflies floating through the stadium after the release, carrying the hopes, prayers, and wishes of survivors and supporters along with them.In conclusion, Musselman offered a bit of advice to anyone who may be concerned about cancer, whether that concern is for themselves or someone they love."If they're worried about cancer, and they think they may have it, just go get screened and check. If they're fighting, continue the fight, keep swimming, every day. Just keep fighting and swimming and wish them a happy birthday every year," she said.