Page 2 - Gears & Ears May 2015

Gears and Ears

Journal of the Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista

Page 2 May 2015
From Club President Marti Trieschmann

Dear Fellow Rotarians –

As I write this, it is Sunday afternoon on the day we concluded the 9 th
Annual Relay for Life of Lake Buena Vista. I just woke up from a four-hour
nap after completing the 18 hours of Relay. I want to think Jean Campana
for being my fellow “all-nighter.”

The Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista should be so proud to have
been an integral part of this event from its very inception. Our very own
Rotarian, Ray Maxwell, worked diligently along with fellow Rotarian Todd
Wiederkehr to ensure that the field for Relay for Life was made possible. What once was an
unused field has been turned into a facility perfectly suited for this event.

When I joined the Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista almost four years ago, I was not familiar
with Relay for Life nor the work that they accomplish. My first year of participation, I became
Team Ccaptain and then the next year I was the Event Chair. I have participated every year since
joining Rotary, and plan to continue to participate for many years to come.

Rotary is an organization dedicated to five avenues of service – club, vocational, international,
youth and community. I cannot imagine a better way to show our support for our local community
than this event that touches so many lives.

I want to recognize all the survivors and their care givers. I personally know the pain,
suffering and, more importantly, the hope that all of you share. The first year I participated in relay,
it was in honor of my mother who passed away in 2009 after receiving a cancer diagnosis just two
weeks earlier.

This year, I walked not only for my mother, but my ex-father-in-law who battled stomach
cancer and lost that battle last year on Father’s Day, and my own father, who died from Squamous
th
Cell Carcinoma on December 29 . My hope is that I never have to walk for another loved one and
we find a cure and put an end to this terrible disease. I am sure the American Cancer Society
would like nothing more than for Relay for Life to no longer exist - because it is no longer needed!

As Rotarians, the Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista will continue to support the Lake Buena
Vista Relay for Life and other worthy causes that benefit our local community.

Lastly, I want to commend our club for the way that so many of us came together to make
this a success. Of special note, I want to thank Darrin Whipple, Dawn Hatch, Jean Campana, Gus
Campana and Jeff Calvert for working to coordinate this event. Also, a special thanks to Bill
Kesselring for stepping in for Darrin who had surgery just a few weeks before the start of Relay. In
addition, the following members participated by helping with setup and logistics, working the wheel
and auction, walking, donating and raising funds, or donating prizes: (Please see the next page)