By Dan Aceto

Staff Writer

When Bella Harmon, 8, of Scarborough, broke her wrist in 2006, her mother, Heidi never expected results of her blood work to show anything out of the ordinary. What she discovered shocked her.

Her daughter had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer that targets white blood cells. Her doctor at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland decided to test her blood after noticing she looked pale when she entered the hospital.

Fortunately for Bella Harmon, the cancer was diagnosed early and within a month of receiving treatment she went into remission. Although the cancer’s growth subsided, she underwent 27 months of chemotherapy to eradicate the disease. She has been cancer free since January 2009.

In honor of her recovery, Bella Harmon will be joined June 17 by friends and family as part of the team “Spirit of 76” during this year’s annual Relay for Life at South Portland High School.

The event helps raise money for cancer research and other related patient costs. The relay is an all-night walk around the high school’s outside track to celebrate lives of cancer survivors and victims.

The event was started in 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt of Tacoma, Wash., who walked around a track for 24 hours to benefit the American Cancer Society, according to the Relay For Life website. The annual event now attracts more than 3.5 million people in more than 5,000 communities nationwide.

Heidi Harmon said she knows how difficult and emotionally draining a cancer diagnosis can be and is grateful Relay for Life exists to raise money for research. 

“It was really tough at first and long and exhausting,” Heidi Harmon said. “It’s important to help people and benefit research.”

She said while her daughter was at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital the family was open to different forms of treatment and hopes other patients can find the same success. 

“When she went through her treatment, she did a lot of trials to see what would be the best option,” Heidi Harmon said. “That road may help someone else.”

Bella Harmon’s aunt, Anne Hooper of Scarborough, and her daughter, Deanna, also will be on a relay team. Their team, “Betty’s Keeper,” was founded by family friend Sarah Perham of South Portland in 2005 after her mother died of uterine cancer that year.

Perham said she is proud to be part of the event.

“Cancer is spreading so much, most people know someone who has had it or been touched by it,” Perham said. “I think the more people know about this event the better.”

The event begins with a lap around the track for survivors and caregivers only. Teams are required to have one member from the team on the track at all times throughout the night.

She said the reason the event goes all night is because “cancer doesn’t sleep.”

“Everybody out there walking has a reason,” Perham said.

Perham said she didn’t know about the event until her mother died and she contacted the American Cancer Society to ask how to get involved in some kind of benefit. 

“If I knew about the event when my mother was battling cancer, I would have started a team then,” Perham said. “Nothing is going to bring her back, but we can try to prevent someone else from being taken by raising money for research.”

Perham said each team is responsible for raising at least $100 per person to help benefit cancer research. She said many area businesses have helped the team raise money through various fundraisers. On the first Monday of each month, the team gathers at Friendly’s in South Portland to sell raffle tickets and chocolates in the shape of cancer awareness ribbons. The restaurant also donates a portion of sales from 5 to 8 p.m.

This week the team will take part in the Racin’ Preview show at the Portland Expo from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature racecar drivers from across the state and benefit Relay for Life through raffle sales and autograph signings. 

Teams also raise money by selling special luminaria bags in honor of either a victim or survivor of cancer. The bags are decorated and lined alongside the perimeter of the track with candles on the inside to remember those who have been affected by the disease. 

She said the team has raised more than $10,000 since it formed in 2005.  

This year 35 teams have signed up for relay, although registration remains open and teams can still join. 

Anne Hooper said that although the event benefits a serious cause, it is also a time for personal bonding and celebration of life.

“The event always starts out sad, but by the end of the night it’s so fun you can’t wait to do it next year,” she said. 

Her daughter, Deanna, agreed. 

She said her cousin, Bella Harmon, is her best friend and can’t wait to help participate with the family in her honor.

“I’m really excited to color my luminaria bag for Bella,” Deanna Hooper said.

For Anne Hooper, involving her daughter in the annual walk is another way of teaching her one of life’s many lessons.

“It really isn’t that far off from talking to them about alcohol or drugs,” Anne Hooper said. “You can put yourself out there and do all you can to help others if you know them or not and not have to expect anything back. It’s all about sticking together, talking to your children and making them aware.”

Staff Writer Dan Aceto can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237.