EPHRATA - Ephrata residents showed their support for the fight against cancer during the Columbia Basin Relay for Life Saturday.

About 15 teams spent the day walking around the Ephrata High School track - the culmination of the year they spent raising awareness for cancer as well as funds for the American Cancer Society.

More than a dozen cancer survivors from the area kicked off the event by walking the first lap of the Relay, known as the Survivors Lap. Among them was survivor Darlene Varley, of the Tri-Cities.

Varley, who is a past Hero of Hope recipient, spoke during the event's opening ceremony. The American Cancer Society's Heroes of Hope program honors cancer survivors each year as a way to symbolize the courageous struggle of all cancer survivors.

Varley said she is celebrating 15 years of being cancer free next month.

"We are living proof people can survive cancer," she said to the cancer survivors at the Ephrata Relay. "I have been a survivor for 15 years, I'm really proud of that."

Varley got involved with the American Cancer Society in 1975, after she lost her first husband to cancer.

"When that happens to you, you say to yourself I have got to step in and do something," Varley said. Since then, she has participated in numerous Relay events.

She is also a Congressional lead for the Fourth Congressional District for the Cancer Action Network.

Varley said she is cancer-free because of two drugs that she has taken in the past. She said if research on the drugs were never funded, then she would have never had the chance to take them.

"I'm here because of the research," Varley said. She urged Relay participants to continue raising funds for cancer research.

"This (Relay for Life) was started back in 1985 by one person, and it has grown and grown and grown," she said.

The first Relay for Life raised $27,000 for research - with one person walking. The next year, 19 teams participated in the event, Varley said.

"Besides this one in Ephrata, there are over 5,1999 Relays for Life this year," she said. "That's wonderful."

The Ephrata Relay committee also honored Krista Durtka, who was diagnosed about three years ago with lung cancer. Durtka had a part of her lung removed as a result and went through subsequent treatment.

Last year, the problem reoccurred and Durtka went through six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. She is receiving treatment and was unable to attend Saturday's event.

The Relay committee had Durtka's family cut the ribbon to start the Relay in her place.