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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Families and friends gathered inside Our Lady of Hope Parish on Saturday evening, paying tribute to loved ones while helping to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.</p><p>For the ninth year the church has held a luminaria ceremony organized by local Relay For Life of NEPA team, The Fancy Little Team That Could.</p><p>Event organizer and parish member Sara Klinges said her Relay for Life team began holding the mini vigil after a fellow team member suggested it as an additional fundraiser to the main Relay For Life event.</p><p>&#8220;It just grew from there. The first year we had maybe 30 of the candles, and now we had over 70 this year,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The event takes place prior to the regular Saturday Mass, and anyone can participate. White bags filled a table at the front of the alter, some complete with photographs of lost loved ones. Even a framed photograph of &#8220;Jeopardy&#8221; host Alex Trebek joined the display, who is currently fighting pancreatic cancer.</p><p>A new addition to this year&#8217;s vigil, Klinges spoke about The Empty Table during the ceremony. During her speech, Klinges told the congregation the symbolism behind each piece on the table.</p><p>&#8220;The single rose in the vase signifies the enduring love of their family and friends, and the strength of a patient&#8217;s will to fight the disease that ultimately claimed many of them,&#8221; she said. &#8220;The lemon on the plate reminds us of the bitter battle against a deadly disease. A battle fought by more than 1.3 million new patients each year.&#8221;</p><p>For Klinges, both the event and Relay&#8217;s purpose is personal.</p><p>&#8220;My uncle passed from cancer a little over 10 years ago. He was only 43,&#8221; she said. &#8220;A couple years after that I got involved. It just became very important to do something in his memory.&#8221;</p><p>Offering prayer during the service and leading the Mass after, parish pastor Father John Terry said having the event at the church helps give the congregation hope that their loved ones have moved on and are at peace.</p><p>Pointing to a photograph next to the luminaria, the pastor said his own mother passed from the disease at 46.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s personal, and it&#8217;s personal to a lot of people. Many people are touched by this, also too I think it makes us think twice about how lucky we are to still be around,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You cannot forget the good that other people have done as well. Their memory will always be in our minds and our hearts.&#8221;</p><p>Proceeds from the event benefit further research and other programs through the American Cancer Society. Visit Relay Fore Life of NEPA on Facebook for more information.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Attendees of a Relay For Life of NEPA fundraiser remember loved ones who lost their battle to cancer during a luminaria ceremony at Our Lady of Hope Church in Wilkes-Barre Saturday.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_full-display-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Attendees of a Relay For Life of NEPA fundraiser remember loved ones who lost their battle to cancer during a luminaria ceremony at Our Lady of Hope Church in Wilkes-Barre Saturday.  </caption0><photoCredit0>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Terry-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Father John Terry of Our Lady of Hope Church says a prayer during a luminary ceremony at the church Saturday held by a Relay For Life of NEPA team. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Terry-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Father John Terry of Our Lady of Hope Church says a prayer during a luminary ceremony at the church Saturday held by a Relay For Life of NEPA team. </caption1><photoCredit1>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_luminaries-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A photo of &#8216;Jeopardy&#8217; host Alex Trebek, who is currently battling pancreatic cancer, joined roughly 70 luminary bags during a ceremony remembering those who&#8217;ve passed from the disease. Family and friends of lost loved ones were able to purchase luminary bags as a fundraiser for Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_luminaries-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>A photo of &#8216;Jeopardy&#8217; host Alex Trebek, who is currently battling pancreatic cancer, joined roughly 70 luminary bags during a ceremony remembering those who&#8217;ve passed from the disease. Family and friends of lost loved ones were able to purchase luminary bags as a fundraiser for Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society. </caption2><photoCredit2>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Klinges-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Event organizer and Relay for Life of NEPA team member Sara Klinges address the congregation during Saturday&#8217;s vigil. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Klinges-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Event organizer and Relay for Life of NEPA team member Sara Klinges address the congregation during Saturday&#8217;s vigil. </caption3><photoCredit3>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Vigil-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Attendees bring luminaries to the altar of Our Lady Of Hope Parish in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. A ceremony was held at the church through a Relay For Life of NEPA team to remember loved ones who passed from cancer. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_Vigil-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Attendees bring luminaries to the altar of Our Lady Of Hope Parish in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. A ceremony was held at the church through a Relay For Life of NEPA team to remember loved ones who passed from cancer. </caption4><photoCredit4>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Cancer fundraiser shines light on those who lost battle