"You have breast cancer."
Six years ago, that statement was ringing in Tammy Meinen's head as she walked the track at Geweke Field in Yuba City for Relay for Life, a fundraiser and benefit for cancer and cancer survivors.
Her thoughts raced. Cancer was something that happened to others, not her. Would she live to see her daughter graduate from college? Would she ever get to hold a grandchild?
"I experienced the fear of the unknown," Meinen said. "And I made the decision to fight."
Meinen battled through radiation treatments and chemotherapy. She lost her hair.
But at Saturday's Relay for Life, on the very same track where she pondered an unthinkable future, Meinen stood, holding her grandson, Waylon George-Munrow, as a cancer survivor.
In the end, realizing all she stood to lose made her appreciate what she has.
"It was tough," Meinen said. "But in the long run, it was a blessing. The last six years have brought some very joyous times."
Relay for Life will last until 9 a.m. today, and during the entire 24-hour event, people will be walking around the track in support of raising cancer awareness, improving cancer treatments and supporting cancer survivors.
One lap around the track yields stories of triumph and tragedy, stories emblematic of the toll cancer can take and how the fight to beat the disease can change lives.
There was Cindy Dragovich. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago.
"My first reaction was, what did I do wrong?" Dragovich said. "Then you look around and realize how many wonderful people share the same journey, and you feel very lucky and very blessed."
Dragovich beat her cancer, but she has also experienced her share of loss. Her grandfather, sister-in-law, brother and aunt all fell to the disease.
Last year at the event, she caught up with a friend, a physical education teacher who ate right and exercised. She was healthy and full of life.
"Today, I'm going to her memorial," Dragovich said. The cancer had started in her lung and quickly spread from there, unstoppable and lethal.
There was the Remund family. Andrew Remund was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a potentially deadly type of cancer, when he was just 3 years old.
But early this year, after years of treatment, the doctors declared Andrew cancer-free.
On Saturday, he was back to being a normal kid, intent mostly on eating the Rice Krispy treats his family, including mother, Sarah, and father, Brian, had prepared to sell and raise money for the cause.
There was Cindy Maynard. She received her last treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma back in 1999. This year was her first year participating in the Relay for Life.
"Anything helps to make people aware of cancer and that we need more help," Maynard said. "What we can do now is amazing, but it could still get better."
Last year, the Yuba City Relay for Life event eclipsed $1 million in total donations over 12 years, said Lisa Cunningham, the accounting chair for the Relay for Life Committee.
This year, Cunningham said the event would raise between $80,000 and $100,000 for the American Cancer Society.
CONTACT reporter Andrew Creasey at 749-4780 and on Twitter @AD_Creasey.
