The couple lost their daughter, Laura Nicole “Nikki” Parker, a little more than two years ago after she fought a battle against Ewing’s sarcoma.

The Parkers may have offered time or been involved with various cancer fundraising events before the loss of their daughter, but since then they have worked ceaselessly to promote cancer awareness and raise money for the cause of finding a cure.

They say, too often, people wait until they’ve lost a loved one before they get involved in the fight against cancer.

“It’s the saddest thing because it normally has to hit home before people do anything,” Roger Parker said. “Just think about Nikki — she was only 19. It never crossed our minds she could’ve had cancer. Now she’s the reason we do what we do.”

Nikki Parker, an only child, graduated from East Wake High School with High Honors in 2005 before attending N.C. State where she made Dean’s List her first semester.

But to the complete shock of the family, she discovered a tumor roughly the size of a baseball on her hip just one year later — in May 2006. She started chemotherapy shortly after and ended up in the hospital quite often, according to her parents. “I remember driving two hours to Duke and back just to see her sleep sometimes,” Denise Parker said.

“I’d be tired, just got off work, but it didn’t matter to me,” Roger Parker said. “She’s the reason I shaved my head (which is still shaved). I told her when her hair started to fall out mine wouldn’t grow again until hers started growing back, but that never came.”

What looked like light at the end of the tunnel turned out to be an example of the severity of the disease when by October 2006 the tumor had shrunk to the size of a walnut and become inactive.

But between then and when the disease took Nikki Parker’s life on Jan. 13, 2007, her back began to hurt. More MRIs revealed the cancer had become active again, and had spread beyond control.

The loss of their daughter spurred the Parkers to go above and beyond to get the word out on the disease and help raise money to help find a cure. The two, along with friends and family, started a Relay For Life team in her honor within months of her passing — the team appropriately known as NikkiChick.

Last Friday and Saturday’s East Wake Relay event at Five County Stadium marked the third year NikkiChick’s been involved in eastern Wake County. In its first year, the team, comprised of 117 members, raised $24,000. In year two, the team was given the Caregiver Award.

“Every year Relay gives a Relay Cup for the team that raises the most money,” Relay chair Dianna Scoggins said. “Their team has held that trophy for the last two years.”

Roger Parker said his team does a pretty good job at raising money, and considers it a year-long effort.

“We do it to keep Nikki’s name alive,” he said. “It’s tough losing loved ones, and especially tough to see kids go through that. No kid should have to go through that. We want to keep her memory alive, we do it to honor her, and some day maybe we can put an end to this.”

After 12 years of hard work and dedication, East Wake Relay For Life crossed the $1,000,000 barrier prior to last Friday night’s opening ceremonies. The group as a whole had amassed $99,000 before the night’s events began, only needing $74,700 to break the million-dollar mark.

Scoggins said it was particularly gratifying to accomplish such a feat in light of this year being the American Cancer Society’s 96th anniversary.

“We had great support from the community like always, and the track looked fuller this year so it was just great,” she said. Roger Parker said those who have never been to a Relay event need to consider the deeper meaning and support the cause.

“The American Cancer Society has so many different types of cancer being fought that need so much attention,” he said. “Public awareness is everything. People need to see Nikki’s story and wise up to the truth that this can happen to us all, even children.”