Margaret Fitzgerald to Serve as Honorary Chair for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Brookfield

Brookfield, CT – 5/20/13 – The American Cancer Society has selected Margaret Fitzgerald to serve as honorary chair for this year’s Relay For Life® of Brookfield.    
 
Fitzgerald was diagnosed two years ago with endometrial cancer that was found during an early screening. Fitzgerald is most well known as a music teacher for the past 33 years in Brookfield at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School. She teaches 4th grade music and 4th grade band. Fitzgerald says “My job is a great one, because i work with the best kids anywhere.  You can always tell when we are around, because you hear that awesome tune called "Let's Go Band!"”. She is also the music curriculum coordinator for the district.  Plus, she directs a choir at our Lady of the Lakes Church in New Milford, and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT.   
 
When asked about she felt about her cancer diagnosis, Fitzgerald replied, “            Quite frankly I was too busy to have cancer, right?  I mean, don't you only get that when you are old?  Am I old now?  This isn't fair, my daughter is too young for me to have cancer.  All of these thoughts raced through my brain after I was outside my doctors' office, sitting alone in my car crying.  My mortality hit me square of the head.  This is not cool.  At  all.  I needed surgery, had it and found that the cancer had been caught early on, so I had an excellent prognosis.  That set me off on a mission. First, I really had to prioritize my life and set some things to rights.  Nothing like a little cancer to send you off on a spree of telling your people just how important they are in your life.

Next, I reflected on just how lucky I really was.  You see, my doctor discovered my cancer at a yearly exam.  I hate going for my yearly exams.  Mammograms- yuck.  Pap smears- yuck.  Colonoscopies- yuck.  No one likes these tests.  However, everyone needs them for cancer prevention.  Get them done.  Call now if your have put these tests or others you need off. Prevention is a LOT better than cancer.   My doctor, Dr. Sussman, saved my life because he noticed something "just not right" and kept looking into what it might be- he found my cancer at an early stage.  I thank God and him every day, because I would not be here today if that had not happened.  My kids would have no mom, my husband no partner.  If anyone takes anything from my experience, I hope that it will be to get those screening tests done- maybe not for you, but for your loved ones.”

Fitzgerald thanks her family for the amazing support they gave her. Her family includes her husband of 32 years (this August), Mike (also a music teacher in New Milford) and her 4 children, Matthew, 24, Ben, 19, Andrew, 15 and Hannah, 9.  

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.

At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path.  Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during Relay. Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups . . . people from all walks of life – all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.

Relay For Life began in 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, took the first step of his 24-hour walk around a track in Tacoma, Wash., and raised $27,000 to support the American Cancer Society. In 2012, more than 3.5 million people in 5,146 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 21 other countries, will gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer.   

The Relay For Life of Brookfield takes place at Brookfield High School on June 1st-June 2nd, 2013. To participate, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.RelayForLife.org/brookfieldct. It is not too late to sign up. 

Not only does the Relay For Life raise money for the American Cancer Society, the community event is fun for the whole family. The event kicks off a 6pm beginning with a few words from Ms. Fitzgerald.  The survivor lap begins at 6:30pm followed immediately by the caregiver lap. The event includes a DJ, band, food, fun activities and the very touching luminaria lap at 9pm. We hope you can join us.