Survivor Games Activities

Beating cancer twice puts it all in perspective

Shortly after she and her husband, Rob, moved to Gardiner in the mid-1970s, she attended a game at Quimby Field. The rivalry, which began in 1892, was particularly fierce in those days.

"I walked in and young men were fighting and yelling at each other and no one was doing anything about it," she said. "When the bus left and went down Lincoln Avenue, kids were throwing rocks at it."

Rob went on to become an assistant coach under John Wolfgram and both schools worked at toning down the extra-curricular activities surrounding the game while maintaining its intensity. It's turned out pretty well.

More than 3,000 fans turned out to watch the teams play for the 134th time Friday night at Alumni Field in Augusta. The game these days is a preseason exhibition since the teams play in different classes, but its luster remains. Fans who attend but one game a year make sure to see their Rams and Tigers knock heads on the field.

Off the field, the spirit of cooperation between the two communities has never been greater. Billed as the Drive Out Cancer Challenge, Friday night's game was the first in a series of four preseason athletic contests between the two schools. Proceeds from all the games will go to the Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta.

Munzing, a two-time cancer survivor, was an honorary captain for Gardiner. Football has been a huge part of her life. She began watching games with her dad as a youngster in Danvers, Mass., and started going out with Rob when he quarterbacked the high school team.

"My dad was pretty pleased I brought home a football player," she said.

Rob went on to play for Maine while Beth attended Northeastern, where she played field hockey and softball and made the long trips to Orono. Rob eventually took over for Wolfgram and he and Beth had three sons -- Patrick, Andrew and Nate -- who played for the Tigers.

Patrick was in the eighth grade when Beth found out she had breast cancer for the first time. At the time she was teaching health and physical education at Richmond High School (she retired in 2010) and asked the principal if she could address the school.

Spring Valley Relays For Life | Zaykar Global Ventures

Residents from Spring Valley and neighboring communities gathered to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones and fight back against cancer during Relay for Life of Spring Valley at Spring Valley Middle School on Saturday and Sunday.

This is the first year volunteers organized a Relay for Life event to raise money for the American Cancer Society in Spring Valley.

“I was very excited to know that there was going to be a Spring Valley Relay for Life,” said Lisa Stewart, the Team Recruitment Chair of the nine-member Organizing Committee. “If we could once a year get together, walk laps and fight against cancer, that’s how we build community.”

There were 10 registered teams when the Opening Ceremony took place at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Each team was asked to have a representative walk on the field at all times during the 24-hour event.

Stewart, who was the captain of two teams, Neighbors for a Cure and Runnin Rebels, said she walked and volunteered for her mother-in-law, who is being treated for colon cancer.

“This is a way that I could help my mother-in-law who lives in Arkansas,” said Stewart, who lives in Spring Valley. “She’s not even local, but it helped me figure out how I can help her better.”

At the start of the relay, there were 68 participants, including 15 survivors.

“It’s great to see other people like us,” said Survivor Chair Christina Hicks, who is being treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Jackie Parfet, who won her battle against breast cancer, said she wanted to be involved because cancer has greatly impacted her life and the lives of her loved ones.

“I’m a survivor, and I can stand here and keep naming people who I’ve lost from cancer,” said Parfet, who headed the Thrivers team.

Teams raised money through sponsorships and other fundraisers held throughout the event. Some teams sold food and drinks, while other teams sold items such as balloons and glow-in-the-dark sticks.

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