Some of the best things in Sue Marcinek's life have come in twos - she has two devoted and loving sons, Braden and Nick; she has served as the liaison and administrative right hand to two first selectmen, Joe Borst and Pat Llodra; and she is a two-time cancer survivor.Anyone who would like to share a picture or memory with attendees, and have it added to the Relay slideshow, forward the images to newtownrelayforlife@gmail.com.There is also still plenty of room for residents and local groups or businesses to form teams, or for local sponsorship opportunities. To learn more, or to register for the event, visit relayforlife.org/newtownct.

And this year, Ms Marcinek will have two opportunities to talk about her experiences, first before others who have also fought the fight at the annual pre-Relay Survivor's Reception as the 2016 Newtown Relay For Life Honorary Survivor, and then as she addresses supporters, volunteers, and team members during opening ceremonies.

Ms Marcinek's first experience with Relay For Life came as an attendee to Newtown's inaugural event in 2004. At that point she was already a survivor herself, and was supporting her mom, who was battling ovarian cancer. The following year, and shortly after he mom lost her brave fight, Ms Marcinek formed her first Relay team.

"I did very well and had a great time at Relay," she recalled. "It was very different from my first experience, which was very emotional and heart wrenching. I felt like I was doing something to make a difference. Relay is something I've always shared with my boys. Unfortunately, they were raised with cancer - and it was always a part of their lives - so they also have a true appreciation for the event."

Newtown's 2016 Relay Co-Chair Tracy Broomer frequently reminds those associated with Relay that a cancer survivor is defined by the American Cancer Society as anyone who is living with cancer, from the date of diagnosis. She along with Ms Marcinek and other organizers are hoping to see upwards of 100 or more Newtown cancer survivors and their caregivers at this year's main event.

"Whether you're a survivor or a caregiver, the Relay For Life of Newtown would like to invite you to join us on Saturday, May 21, for our special Survivor Luncheon," Ms Broomer said.

This year's Survivor Luncheon will begin at 3 pm on the patio at NYA Sports & Fitness. Lunch will be catered by Sal e Pepe Contemporary Italian Bistro with centerpieces for each table provided by Newtown Florist.

"There will be raffles, giveaways, and a special slideshow as part of our opening ceremony and first lap, which will be led by our survivors at 5 pm," she said. "If you have ever heard the words, 'You have cancer,' we invite you to our event as a survivor."

Ms Marcinek was in her 30s when she first heard those terrible and foreboding words.

"At the time Braden was just a toddler, and I started having headaches - I never got headaches before," Ms Marcinek said. "That was in September of 2001. So I went to the doctor and got some blood work done. I'm not even sure there was a connection to those headaches, but it was what sent me to the doctor."

Soon after she found herself in an endocrinology office readying for a biopsy, which came back conclusive.

"So they decided to remove the entire thyroid, which was followed up by radioactive iodine treatment," she said. "Nobody could come in and visit me - it was crazy."

With a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, Ms Marcinek felt it was best to not get into too much detail with her children about why mom was spending time in the hospital.

After a few years passed, and she began attending the Newtown Relay, her friends kept after her to walk in the survivor's lap.

"Of course by then the kids were 6 and 9, and some of their friends' moms knew I had cancer. So I figured they were old enough by then to tell them," she said. "So I sat them down and told them - and then I started walking in the survivor laps."

Then, during the 2014 Relay, she stood watching her friend Mary Ann Jacob who was the honorary survivor that year and a breast cancer survivor.

"She really made an impression. I was a survivor, but I also had a family history of cancer. And I remember her talking passionately about how important it was to at least do self exams," Ms Marcinek said. "I probably should have had genetic testing, and I never did self exams before that - but after hearing Mary Ann I started, and sure enough I found a lump within a month.

"If I hadn't heard her speak, I'm not sure I ever would have found it in time."

After the lump biopsy, Ms Marcinek said she and her doctors chose to go through two rounds of chemotherapy between July and December of 2014. She then underwent a bilateral mastectomy a month later.

"During this time I also had genetic testing and I found I was BRCA2 positive. And since my mom died of ovarian cancer, I knew my last step would be a complete hysterectomy," she said.

Today, Ms Marcinek is breast cancer free. And while she is scan negative, she is still thymoglobulin positive.

"The blood work still indicates there is something in there," she said.

Ms Marcinek thinks no matter if a person or family has been directly touched by cancer or not, Relay is a great community event to attend.

"This community really knows how to come together around a cause," she said. "And you never know when something you hear or see or learn might hit home."

Ms Broomer believes that getting involved in the Relay For Life of Newtown can introduce residents to others who are facing the same challenges, and provide opportunities for learning, sharing, and friendship.

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