Cancer survivors gather to celebrate life

Mike Doherty, a cancer survivor, and his wife, Amanda, learned shortly after last year's Survivors' Dinner they were going to have their first child. Little Erin is now 4-monthsold and Mike learned Monday he remains cancer free. Torance Inman knew his audience well Monday night, even if he hadn't met any of them before.

"How many of you remember the day you heard those three little words - you have cancer?" he asked. The question was met with raised hands throughout the Gaffney High School cafeteria, where more than 280 cancer survivors and their caretakers came together for the annual American Cancer Society's Survivors Dinner.

Inman, the guest speaker Monday night, heard those three words himself 14 years ago, setting himself up for sometimes painful and physically draining treatment, but 14 years of joy and advocacy as well.

"Get excited about your lives as survivors folks," he told the audience. "You survived for a reason."

The Survivors Dinner is an annual celebration of life, as well as a lead-in to the American Cancer Society's major fundraiser - The Relay for Life.

This year's Relay for Life is scheduled for May 8-9 at The Timken Company's Gaffney Roller Bearing Plant. The Cherokee County chapter of the American Cancer Society raised $230,000 last year, making Cherokee County one of the top fund-raising regions in the country based on its size.

Among the many survivor stories on display Monday night was a beaming fourmonth old baby. Mike Doherty, a cancer survivor, and his wife, Amanda, learned just a few days after last year's Relay for Life that they were going to have their first child. On Monday night, they brought four-month-old Erin to the Survivors Dinner to include her in the celebration.

"She's a blessing," Mike Doherty said.

And if the day couldn't have gone better for the family, Doherty received news Monday that his medical tests were once again clear of cancer.

Inman, the director of the Chamber of Commerce in Union and chairman of Union's Relay for Life, said he made a list of things he wanted to do after his diagnosis, similar to the recent movie "The Bucket List."

"I've gone skydiving," he said. "I don't know if I'll do it again but I've done it."

He also fulfilled his desire to speak at a graduation ceremony, which he did twice, as well as a desire to go deep sea fishing. As the fishing boat anchored 30 miles from shore, he joked that he was sick to his stomach from 7:30 a.m. until the anchor was pulled up seven hours later.

He also judged a beauty pageant, another task he likely won't try again.

Fourteen years in remission, Inman challenged others to get tested regularly since most forms of cancer are curable if caught early.