The Bellwood community knows the battle with cancer all too well. Eight year old Maddie Shura passed away back in April after a long battle with the disease. This was the first relay without Maddie there but the determination to keep going despite the rain embodied the attitude of the brave second grader. 

Maddie’s father Jason Shura explained, “That’s Maddie. That’s who she was and you know, it’s the perfect way to celebrate and the perfect way to remember her.”

This year’s Relay Ambassador was 18 year old Alexis Kensinger. Kensinger had grown close to Maddie through cheerleading. Shura said, “When Maddie was in Cincinati, they were doing cheerleading practice and Alexis and Maddie would do the practice on FaceTime on the iPhone. The two of them spent a lot of time togehter. Maddie loved Alexis.”

That connection got deeper as Kensinger faced her own battle with cancer back in February. Kensinger explained, “I always told myself that I would do absolutely anything to make Maddie’s cancer go away.  I guess getting mine showed me not to ever, ever give up because she never once gave up on herself. She was always strong towards everybody. Just knowing that we both share that little connection, it just makes our bond much better.”

Though Maddie wasn’t there physically, Kensinger says her spirit was. “I miss her so much,” she said, “I know that she’s here with me today and with anybody fighting.”