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Cathy Colleli has been a dedicated volunteer for the Olney Relay for Life, working for four years to raise money and awareness in order to find a cure for cancer.

The fifth annual Olney Relay is scheduled next June at Sherwood High School. Colleli, a resident of Olney for more than 20 years, plans to be there again to serve food to participants of the survivors' luncheon.

But she will have a new, and very personal, inspiration next time.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in August.

Colleli, along with her sister, JoAnn McLean, joined the first Olney Relay for Life in 2006 in honor of their younger sister, Sheri Colleli Hogan, who died in October 2004 from inflammatory breast cancer at the age of 38. Just five months later, they lost their mother, Claudia Colleli, to bladder cancer.

They began participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer when their sister was ill, but after losing their mother, Colleli and McLean wanted to do more.

"We wanted to work to cure all cancers, and Relay was the best way, since it symbolized all types of cancer and survivors," she said.

With cancer having taken her sister and her mother, Colleli, 54, kept up with routine screenings. In May, the results of a mammogram came back negative.

But during a breast cancer fundraiser, she learned about MRI breast imaging, a more detailed test used in the detection of cancer. She had the opportunity to speak with the Dr. Rachel Brem, founder of the nonprofit Brem Foundation and well known for her work with breast cancer.

Brem gave her advice.

"She said that with my family history of cancer and having been told I have ‘dense fibrous breast tissue,' that I absolutely must have an MRI breast baseline done," Colleli said. "Dr. Brem said that if my insurance company would not pay for the test, to call her directly because her foundation at George Washington University Hospital would cover the costs."

When she asked her doctor about the test, she was met with resistance.

She was told she did not meet the criteria for the more expensive form of screening, but she pushed back and her doctor worked with her until they convinced the medical board to approve the test.

Colleli had the MRI done in June, just as a baseline.

"I never expected anything to show up since I had just had a negative mammogram," she said.

A couple of days later, she received a call telling her that something showed up.

"It was so deep that they couldn't do a normal biopsy, it had to be a MRI-guided biopsy," she said. "A couple of days later, I got the call that I had breast cancer."

Colleli said the doctors told her that it was a very tiny lump located deep inside her breast, and fortunately, it was caught very early.

"The doctors told me that by the time it would have shown up on a mammogram, probably in one to two years, we would be talking about a much different outcome," she said. "It's a very aggressive type of cancer and is much more difficult to treat."

Colleli had surgery on Sept. 4 and is in the process of eight rounds of chemotherapy. After completing the chemo, she will have reconstructive surgery.

"Then with God's help and the help of my sister's and mother's angels in heaven, I'll be done with it," she added.

Colleli said that while she is angry and heartbroken that her family has to endure watching another relative go through this ordeal, they all understand that she will "fight like a girl" and win.

She is thankful for her friends and neighbors and those that support Relay for Life.

"It's the funds we've all raised for research and testing that will help me eradicate this cancer from my body," she said. "Ironically, I've served lunch to our community cancer survivors for the past three years and next year I plan to serve myself."

Michael Moriarty, Olney Relay for Life co-chair, said that when he talked with Colleli about sharing her story, she was somewhat reluctant.

"She didn't want the story to be about her, but how other people can prevent this from happening to them," he said.

Moriarty said that Colleli's situation is one of many that inspire people to participate.

"We don't want people like Cathy to have to go through this," he said. "We want to spare them this trauma and finally find a cure."

-Olney Relay for Life: June 12, Sherwood High School. Kick-off event Jan. 23 at Longwood Recreation Center, 19300 Georgia Ave., Brookeville. Visit www.olneyrelay.org or call Michael Moriarty at 240-994-1725

-The Brem Foundation:

www.bremfoundation.com.