By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.coms
When Arnold and Pauline Nickerson of Overton walk the track during the survivor’s lap at this year’s Relay for Life, the couple ¬– married for 57 years – want their presence to give others hope.
Seventy-eight-year-old Pauline is a 24-year survivor of cancer and Arnold, who turns 80 in July, is a 21-year survivor. The couple want people to know that you can have cancer, you can survive cancer and you can live a long live after cancer.
“I hope it cheers people up,” says Pauline. “I hope it spreads the message you hang in there and you don’t give up.”
Twenty-four years ago Pauline had surgery to treat her colon cancer. She had first noticed symptoms during a camping trip and a visit to her doctor determined she had cancer and it was malignant.
Arnold, on the other hand, started out with a scab on his nose during his days working at the cotton mill that for months wouldn’t go away. He was diagnosed with melanoma and was treated before the skin cancer spread.
Still, Pauline says although they’ve been cancer survivors for over two decades, once you’ve had cancer it never really goes away.
“You live with it,” she says. “You get a little lump on your neck or something and it gives you the shivers.”
But, she says, it doesn’t stop you from living. The Nickersons still grab their guitars and go to seniors’ residences and churches to sing for seniors and to raise money for charity.
The couple is a strong supporter of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, which this year will be held at the recreation complex in Hebron on June 11 and 12. This year’s event is expected to surpass the $1-million mark in terms of the money that’s been raised in Yarmouth since the first relay was held here in 2004.
The Nickersons say the survivor’s lap, which helps to kick off to 12-hour event and is followed up by a caregiver’s lap, is always an inspirational and emotional moment.
They admit it is also surprising to see some of the people who are wearing the yellow survivors t-shirts.
“You see people you know but you didn’t know they had cancer,” says Arnold, who points out having cancer can be a private issue for some people whereas the relay is a very public event. His wife says at the relay, however, everyone gives one another support.
“My main purpose is to cheer people up who have cancer or who have had cancer,” she says. “I’ve always said the best is yet to come and no matter what, there is always hope.”
