By MARTA GOUGER

mgouger@tnonline.comEvery now and then we get a chance to be involved in something so much bigger than we are.That happened this weekend when I had a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the American Cancer Society telethon.I asked co-worker George Taylor if I could drop by and answer phones or something. I was going to put in a few hours, meet a few people, hear a story or two and go on with my weekend.Instead, volunteer coordinator Kate Hofherr called me Friday night and asked if I could help Kathy Peters, who checks in all the acts and check presentations. She tells them where to set up and what time to be ready for mic checks. Kathy needed a runner to help out.I have told people where to go before so I figured I could handle it. I couldn't do the full 12 hours both days but I told Kate I could do six each day.I donned my sneakers and showed up, but like any volunteer experience, I received so much more than I gave.Most people, including me, have no idea how it comes together. On television the telethon looks like it runs smoothly.That's because it does.Oh sure, there are glitches. One group didn't show up for some reason. Don't tell anyone, but we were a little behind anyway at that point.Everyone takes it in stride.They've been together for 36 years and they are focused on the outcome: a cure for this dreaded disease.It was a coming together of longtime friends and new ones. There were hugs and tears. Tears of joy and tears of sorrow.We smiled as we saw the young dancers come in costume and get ready to take the stage. Fathers danced with their little girls, tap dancers donned newsboys costumes.Panther Valley's cheerleaders and Harmony Scholars came. Tamaqua's middle school band performed.The list goes on: Jay Smar, the Pa. Villagers polka band, St. John's Lutheran Church of Tamaqua Bell Choir, Shellshocked Churchills, Becky and the Beasts, Dr. Amy Depuy, Angela Nardini, Danny Farole and family; the Big & Bad Rockabilly Cats, The Phoenix Bridge, the SheliaMark Blues Band, and Keystone Karate School.Hosts include Joe Krushinsky, Bud Wychulis, Kim Bell, Jason Demarco, Maureen Donovan, Jerry Knowles and Jacob Gursky.In all, 44 acts gave of their time and talent to help the cause.The cause was one that has touched all of our lives. It's the one that took my mom at age 49.The one that took my brother's mother-in-law less than a year later.It's the one that took my best friend's husband, Wayne, at age 53. He bequeathed me his crazy cat, but truth be told she'd rather be with him.The list goes on. We all have co-workers and relatives who've lost the battle.They all were taken too soon, leaving behind family and friends to mourn.This is the disease that afflicted the four courage award winners: Lindsey Rascavage of Brockton, Natalie Kmetz of Jim Thorpe, Bonnie Myers of Lehighton and Sandy Wychulis of Coaldale.Some of the performers also shared that they were cancer survivors.People showed up with checks from fundraisers that they held all during the year.No performer came empty-handed. They all came with a list of sponsors and pledges.Countless volunteers from the community donated time to answer phones, tabulate pledges, make food for volunteers, serve food for volunteers, sell raffle tickets, take photos, post to social media about the event and shout out to friends to donate.Throughout the 24 hours, hosts praised the young people who have gotten involved. Wrestlers from Lehighton High School came to donate a check. Mahanoy Area students brought a manila envelope with coins. We've made strides in our lifetime, but the hope is that cancer will be wiped out in their lifetime.The telethon topped out at $200,157, reaching the goal because of a last-minute anonymous donor.But just like a baseball game where the slugger hits a walk-off homerun to win the game, it was all the players on the team who contributed to the cause before him.Each and every person who dropped a dollar into a can, or wrote a check for the most they could afford, contributed in some way to help wipe out the disease that killed my mother.