How many birthdays have you celebrated? For Mickey Cockrane, his 92 birthdays are all the more special since he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer nearly 14 years ago.

Cockrane and his wife of 69 years, Helen, took part in the survivor lap to help begin the 2010 Garner Relay for Life at Lake Benson Park Apr. 23.

The couple has been part of the walk since it began in Garner several years ago. Helen has always given to Relay so that a luminary would be lit in her husband’s name. For her, it’s helpful to see all of the other survivors that take part, whether they are survivors of one month and counting or 22 years strong.

“It’s exciting,” she said.

But, Helen is most proud of her church family – Garner United Methodist Church. She said it’s wonderful to be a part of the church and great to see how so many come together to raise a lot of money for the cause each year.

With the number of Cancer victims grows each year, it becomes increasingly important to find a cure. That fact is very important to the more than 1,000 people that participated in the walk.

It mattered to everyone on the record-setting 47 teams, from those who were “jailed” for the cause and had to pay to get out to the cloggers who stomped out Cancer by showing off dance moves to the Cupid Shuffle.

From the poem Event Chair Jill Cottongim read, “Cancer Does Not Have Me,” to the “Helping Hand” song written and performed by Garner Magnet High School’s Shannon West, the effects of Cancer and hope for a better tomorrow were evident.

By press time, the Garner relay had raised nearly $150,000, according to the event website.

For one survivor, who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer a month ago, that money brings the hope of a cure and many more birthdays.

Still want to donate? Visit www.garnerrelay.org and click on donate. The goal for collected funds this year was $172,000.