DECATUR - "Purple Passion" abounded at the 14th annual Macon County Relay for Life, according to emcee state Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion. Local community members gathered Friday at Richland Community College for the all-night American Cancer Society walk to fight the disease.

The event kicked off with a lap around the track done by all cancer survivors, who wore special purple T-shirts. People of all ages, shapes and sizes made their way around the parking lot, a visible reminder that cancer does not discriminate.

Taylor Alexander, 9, a third-grade student at Mount Zion Grade School, served as the event's honorary youth survivor. Her grandmother, Debbie Alexander, works in the pharmacy preparing chemotherapy treatments at Cancer Care Specialists of Central Illinois.

Two years ago, Taylor wasn't feeling well, and her family took her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, Alexander said. The family sought treatment at St. Louis Children's Hospital, and Taylor's tumor continues to shrink.

"Every day is hope," her grandmother said.

Taylor, who was looking forward to singing karaoke at the relay, said it's important for people to donate to events like it "so we can get better and know people are looking out for us."

"She is the most positive, upbeat, enthusiastic, giving - there are just no words," Alexander said of her granddaughter, giving her a hug. "She's just wonderful, and I love her so much."

Taylor said her mom, dad and other family members have been an important support system for her personal battle.

"I'm glad my mom was by my side when I was there because whenever I got the IVs, my mom held my hand," said Taylor. "¦ She even let me squeeze her hand when it hurt …"

Taylor was out in front helping lead the group for the survivor lap.

Patty Snyder, a 55-year-old grandmother battling stage-IV rectal cancer, led walkers in the Fight Back Ceremony, a portion of the event dedicated to making a conscious effort to fight cancer in a personal way.

Snyder, who waited a year before seeing her physician, urged people to be proactive in visiting their doctors for regular screenings and checkups.

"We must save more lives, and we must do it faster," Snyder said. "We cannot let cancer win."

Part of Snyder's personal fight includes participating each year in the relay, the proceeds of which fund cancer education, advocacy, services and research in Macon County. Funding research for a cure is imperative, she said.

"I take seven pills a day," she said during an interview at her home.

For now, her medications only buy her time, staving off the cancer attacking her body, she said, popping open a medicine bottle on her kitchen table and rolling a small pink tablet around in the palm of her hand.

"There's eight basic medicines that they can give for the type of cancer I have," Snyder said, holding up her pill bottle. "This is number seven. What do I do when they get to eight? I think about that a lot. Seven has to work for a long time because I don't want to get to eight."

For every story like Alexander and Snyder's, there are countless others.

Event co-chairwoman Lara Grobosky said that although overall fundraising for the year has been down, likely due to nationwide economic struggles, she is happy with local participation in the event. Every cent donated helps, she said.

"It has hurt us," Grobosky said. "But our motto this year is, 'The pennies that we have today were more than the pennies that we had yesterday.' "

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