For the spirit of a survivor

Lindsay Sandham

Norm Loats, a Navy veteran who fought in World War II, lost his

mother to stomach cancer, his father to liver cancer, and his brother

to lung cancer, and 19 of his 20 aunts and uncles died from some form

of the disease.

Nine-year-old Hannah Whitfield of Costa Mesa found out she had

leukemia at age 6.

These two very different people with two very different stories

will be come together as this year’s honorary cancer survivors in the

Relay For Life of Newport Beach.

They’ll be walking tonight in the fourth annual overnight event to

raise money for cancer research. Participants in the relay, which

begins at 6 p.m. at Newport Harbor High School, will walk in shifts

around the track to honor cancer survivors and to remember those who

have died of the disease.

Loats was diagnosed with skin cancer 20 years ago, and he was also

treated for prostate cancer eight years ago. He still makes frequent

visits to the doctor to have skin cancers burned off with liquid

nitrogen.

“In the summer, I’m sure I exposed myself [to the sun] more than I

should have. Now I’m more careful,” he said. “It’s something all of

us in Southern California have to be aware of.”

Loats, who participates in a research program at UC Irvine to test

the role of DNA in cancer patients, said residents of Orange County

are fortunate to have cancer centers, such as one at Hoag Memorial

Hospital Presbyterian, and to be so close to research and

advancements being made.

“It [cancer] can happen overnight,” he said. “It gives you an

appreciation. We take our health for granted. We have to appreciate

all the research and the advancements that have been made.”

Hannah tried to make the best of her situation, although it was a

trying time for her and her family. She even made up the 10 best

reasons for being bald when she lost all of her hair.

“She handled the situation so much better than I would have,” said

her mother, Colleen Whitfield. “I was inspired by her.”

Hannah said one of the important lessons she learned was the

importance of being healthy and taking care of yourself.

“We go once a month to the hospital and they take my blood to see

if it’s come back, but it hasn’t,” she said.

Both Loats and Hannah said they are honored to have been chosen by

the American Cancer Society as honorary survivors in the relay.

“I have as good an honor as you can have -- being recognized by

the ACS,” Loats said.

Added Hannah, “It felt pretty cool.”