Bigfork's Relay for Life celebrates community spirit

Last July Billie Smith of Bigfork learned she had cancer.

“My first thought was I’m glad it was me. It wasn’t someone else in my family. It wasn’t one of my children or my grandchildren,” she said.

She was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer, and also discovered a tumor.

As she began treatment, and underwent an operation for the tumor, her children started thinking about what they could do.

“I just thought, you know what, we should do Relay for Life,” Craig Smith, Billie's son said. When his sister called him with the same notion, they set up a team for the 2014 Bigfork Relay for Life, on Friday.

In past years Billie had sponsored Luminaria to remember friends and community members that were fighting cancer or had passed on.

Craig had run the Relay twice before for friends, once in Chicago, and six years ago in Columbia Falls. But this year, it is a little different for the Smith's.

“When it hits right at home, your mother... It's a big impact,” Craig said. “Just to see the stress of the whole family, it's heart breaking.”

After undergoing brain surgery 21 years ago to address a benign tumor that was causing seizures, Craig has always been very thankful for his health.

“At that point, it was like why me?” he said. But the surgery changed his life. “I've been fortunate, that God has blessed me with my health, and it's been good ever since.”

His good fortunate has inspired him to give back, and Craig things Relay for Life is a perfect way to do that, since he loves to run.

Craig graduated from Bigfork High School in 1976, where he ran cross country. He plans to run for the full six hours of the Relay, and give encouragement to others on the track.

“If you're tired, well guess what? The person who has cancer is hurting a lot more,” he said.

Right now, Billie said she is doing well. Rather than undergoing chemotherapy her treatment is in the form of a pill called Sutent, which attacks blood vessel growth, and other things that help cancer grow. According to the American Cancer Society website Sutent is one of several new drugs develop by researchers to target kidney cancers, especially in scenarios where traditional chemotherapy might not be as effective. While there are still side effects, they are different and often less severe than with chemotherapy drugs.

Much of the money raised for the American Cancer Society in events like Relay for Life that goes towards the kind of research that develops those treatments.

“At this point it looks like it's working,” Billie said.

Billie said she's found battling cancer to be a very humbling experience.

“This has brought a whole new outlook for me on humbleness, and realizing how much you're really loved and cared for,” she said. She's thankful for the support she's been given from her family and the community.

“It's just unbelievable. Flathead Valley is the greatest, people with the most wonderful, deep, kind hearts.” And she points out that, in the end those relationships are what's the most important.

“In reality that's all we have is each other.”

Besides supporting his mother, Craig is also running for a friends daughter in Tennessee who is fighting aggressive breast cancer. He knows the Relay will likely be emotional.

“I get emotional, especially when they put out the Luminaria.” he said.

He's still pushing his fundraising efforts, asking for donations as little as $10, which can be contributed online at bigforkrelay.com.

Craig said his mother lives for her children and grandchildren, and has been able to keep a positive attitude throughout the last year.

“She's a fighter,” he said.

“I guess my philosophy is I don't dwell on it,” Billie said. “I'm just thankful for today. You're just guaranteed the moment you're in right now.”

Billie will be at the Relay and walk at least the first lap.

“It's a great inspiration for me, now that I have had cancer,” she said. “And for me, however long I am here, I will support Relay for Life.