‘Always in our Hearts’

Amidst a sea of people dressed in purple, the bright white T-shirts with the words “In loving memory” and “Always in our Hearts” printed on the back with her picture, family and friends of 9-year-old Alyssa Crome paid tribute to Alyssa during the annual Gage County Relay for Life event Friday.

Donyll Shaw of Wymore and her daughters, Taylor, 8, and Rayna, 5, were among the hundreds of people that were out walking Friday evening during the yearly event to support cancer survivors and to remember Alyssa, who died of cancer in November.

“She’s our hero,” Shaw said about her little girl.

Crome was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumor, Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid tumor in January 2007. She died on Nov. 18.

Last year, Crome walked in the Relay for Life event for the first and only time, Shaw said.

“We did it last year and she walked it four times,” she said. “We were really proud of her.”

Friday night, Shaw, along with her two daughters and many friends and family, were back to participate in the walk, all wearing the white T-shirts with Alyssa’s picture on the back in honor of her.

But, while others walked, Alyssa’s little sister, Rayna, was doing something a little extra.

“I’m going to run,” she said.

Among the events planned for Friday night were a Wii boxing tournament and a “Fight Back” costume challenge at midnight. Live and silent auctions were also scheduled.

A video tribute, compiled by Tina Wright, was scheduled to be playing throughout the evening in a quiet corner of the Merchants Building.

Since the first Relay for Life event in Tacoma, Wash., millions all over the world have joined the cause to fight cancer, making Relay for Life the largest fundraising event in history.