Cancer survivor Karla Porter receives an encouraging hug from event co-chair Bob Byers at Saturday’s Niles-Buchanan Relay for Life. (Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT)

Karla Porter wiped the tears from her face with one hand and held the Relay For Life banner in the other.

Twenty minutes earlier, she said she did not know if she would have the strength to walk the opening lap of the Niles-Buchanan Relay For Life — the one dedicated to all cancer survivors.

She thought it would be too emotional, having been diagnosed with breast cancer just one year ago.

It was, but she did it anyway.

As she walked alongside other survivors on the track, Relay for Life event co-chair Bob Byers saw her crying and gave her a hug. His wife and son were both diagnosed with cancer at around the same time five years ago.

To some extent, Myers knows what she is going through, having experienced it through his loved ones.

In that moment, one of the true purposes of Relay for Life played out — survivors and caregivers coming together to encourage each other to continue the fight.

To have hope.

To march toward a day when hearing the words, “you have cancer,” is not a life-changing moment.

To see that the American Cancer Society has the funds needed to find a cure.

“When you are told you have cancer it blows your mind,” said Porter, who was participating in her first Relay for Life event Saturday. “I didn’t know where to go or how to get there. To have somebody that can help lay the path helps a lot.”

Porter is from Berrien Center. Her husband, Chris, is an assistant principal at Niles High School — where the Relay event was held Saturday and Sunday morning in an effort to raise money for cancer research.

When Karla was diagnosed in July 2013 she said her emotions were a mess.

Meeting members of the local Relay for Life committee — specifically cancer survivor Melanie Bizoe — helped get her through the tough times.

Now she is better mentally and physically. She has been cancer free since Nov. 20.

“Once you have cancer it is on your mind every single day. To see that someone has lived with that on their mind for 20 years makes me realize I can do it,” Porter said. “I’ve been through the hard part and now I have to get back on track.”

Niles’ Ramona Baker has been cancer free for 10 years, having survived melanoma. She was attending her fourth straight Relay.

“It is very uplifting for your spirits,” Baker said. “All the teams have the same goal — to raise money for cancer research. It is inspiring to see the community come together as a whole for this.”