Sunday, June 12, 2005
Relay for Life
3 years ago I came out to my first Relay for Life. It is an event that touches many people’s hearts and lives. Relay For Life is the Canadian Cancer Society’s unique, hope-filled community event. What makes it so special? At Relay For Life, you will:
· Celebrate the Survivors' Victory Lap.
· Be inspired by the Luminary Ceremony.
· As part of your team, take turns walking, running or strolling around a track in a non-competitive relay.
· Stay up all night – and feel great about it.
· Give 12 hours to the fight against cancer – and it could add years to the lives of others.
· Relax and have fun off the track in the tent village.
· Learn about cancer issues and how to reduce your risk of the disease.
I was touched by the survivors lap and the Luminary Ceremony especially when they sang and played the song Amazing Grace. There is a silence that files the air around you as you pray and reflect over your love ones who have been touched by cancer and either won or loose the battle.
2 yrs ago I was unable to attend because of an accident I had but last year I was there to be apart of the event and again only as a spectator. However when I left their, I spoke to my friends, friends daughter and decided I wanted to put together a team for this year.
I was a little slow at getting things together but was able to get a team together and plan for the event. Some of the people on my team have been involved in this for a few yrs and had lots of ideas and input. The other half including myself were involved for the first time.
So first off we had to come up with a team name. DRIVE OUT CANCER. Then we had to decide on how to decorate our campsite and what we wanted to do as far as team outfits. Then we had to come up with some fundraising ideas. Then it is the cancer society’s rules that each person on the team is to be responsible to raise $100, and to sell 2 Luminaries. I am very proud that everyone on my team met that requirement and more. Over all I think our team raised almost $5000, and sold 35 or 40 luminaries. We raised around $150 in the selling of raffle tickets. A job well done.
The most moving part of the evening for me was the support from my family and friends. Several friends whom had never been to this event came out to support me and my team along with supporting my father and a family friend whom are survivors and did the victory lap. My father has certainly had his rough times with his battle of cancer but as of this year he is a fifteen (15) year survivor. Our family friend who also walked the survivors lap is a three (3) year survivor. Personally I have lost relatives and friends to this disease. My mothers parents died of cancer, my uncle is dieing from this disease, my aunt died from this disease, a very dear friend of mine passed away just over a year ago from this disease, 2 of my friends who came out to this event both have lost their husbands to this disease, I have a friend who 3 year old son died from this disease and the list could go on for ever. One of the girls on my team is a survivor of the disease, another lady on my team and her 3 daughters who were also on my team lost their husband and father to this disease.
So we all have our own personal reason why we were here taking part of this great event. Our theme was DRIVE OUT CANCER, and for me this is personal I want to help find the cure before I get this disease or any more of my family get this disease.
What break's my heart watching the survivor’s line up for the victory lap are the young children. This year I must of spotted at least a ½ dozen to a dozen young people walking wearing the blue survivors t-shirt.
As the evening events progressed there were bands playing and then they had open mike where people could sing, dance, tell a joke, a story, or just share what ever they wanted to. Well one of the first was a young girl I would say under 7 years of age sang a song she wrote in memory of her grandmother who lost the battle. Then their was a father who wrote a song about HOPE in memory of his daughter who passed away only a few months ago. If you have never been a part of it you must plan on it for next year it truly is an event you need and should be a part of.
In closing I want to say thank you to all our sponsors who donated things to our team in support of this event, to all those who pledge us monies, and Mostly a huge THANK YOU to all my TEAM MEMBERS, my family and friend for supporting me through this event.
Dad thank you for walking the victory lap and I am so glad you have beaten this disease & I could walk with you. To all our love ones, friends, husbands, fathers, mothers, grandparents, siblings, children, co-workers who have passed away from this disease, you are missed but not forgotten. You will live on in our hearts forever.
Cancer affects all of us in one way or another at some point in our lives so let’s all keep fighting the battle and lets DRIVE OUT CANCER
· Celebrate the Survivors' Victory Lap.
· Be inspired by the Luminary Ceremony.
· As part of your team, take turns walking, running or strolling around a track in a non-competitive relay.
· Stay up all night – and feel great about it.
· Give 12 hours to the fight against cancer – and it could add years to the lives of others.
· Relax and have fun off the track in the tent village.
· Learn about cancer issues and how to reduce your risk of the disease.
I was touched by the survivors lap and the Luminary Ceremony especially when they sang and played the song Amazing Grace. There is a silence that files the air around you as you pray and reflect over your love ones who have been touched by cancer and either won or loose the battle.
2 yrs ago I was unable to attend because of an accident I had but last year I was there to be apart of the event and again only as a spectator. However when I left their, I spoke to my friends, friends daughter and decided I wanted to put together a team for this year.
I was a little slow at getting things together but was able to get a team together and plan for the event. Some of the people on my team have been involved in this for a few yrs and had lots of ideas and input. The other half including myself were involved for the first time.
So first off we had to come up with a team name. DRIVE OUT CANCER. Then we had to decide on how to decorate our campsite and what we wanted to do as far as team outfits. Then we had to come up with some fundraising ideas. Then it is the cancer society’s rules that each person on the team is to be responsible to raise $100, and to sell 2 Luminaries. I am very proud that everyone on my team met that requirement and more. Over all I think our team raised almost $5000, and sold 35 or 40 luminaries. We raised around $150 in the selling of raffle tickets. A job well done.
The most moving part of the evening for me was the support from my family and friends. Several friends whom had never been to this event came out to support me and my team along with supporting my father and a family friend whom are survivors and did the victory lap. My father has certainly had his rough times with his battle of cancer but as of this year he is a fifteen (15) year survivor. Our family friend who also walked the survivors lap is a three (3) year survivor. Personally I have lost relatives and friends to this disease. My mothers parents died of cancer, my uncle is dieing from this disease, my aunt died from this disease, a very dear friend of mine passed away just over a year ago from this disease, 2 of my friends who came out to this event both have lost their husbands to this disease, I have a friend who 3 year old son died from this disease and the list could go on for ever. One of the girls on my team is a survivor of the disease, another lady on my team and her 3 daughters who were also on my team lost their husband and father to this disease.
So we all have our own personal reason why we were here taking part of this great event. Our theme was DRIVE OUT CANCER, and for me this is personal I want to help find the cure before I get this disease or any more of my family get this disease.
What break's my heart watching the survivor’s line up for the victory lap are the young children. This year I must of spotted at least a ½ dozen to a dozen young people walking wearing the blue survivors t-shirt.
As the evening events progressed there were bands playing and then they had open mike where people could sing, dance, tell a joke, a story, or just share what ever they wanted to. Well one of the first was a young girl I would say under 7 years of age sang a song she wrote in memory of her grandmother who lost the battle. Then their was a father who wrote a song about HOPE in memory of his daughter who passed away only a few months ago. If you have never been a part of it you must plan on it for next year it truly is an event you need and should be a part of.
In closing I want to say thank you to all our sponsors who donated things to our team in support of this event, to all those who pledge us monies, and Mostly a huge THANK YOU to all my TEAM MEMBERS, my family and friend for supporting me through this event.
Dad thank you for walking the victory lap and I am so glad you have beaten this disease & I could walk with you. To all our love ones, friends, husbands, fathers, mothers, grandparents, siblings, children, co-workers who have passed away from this disease, you are missed but not forgotten. You will live on in our hearts forever.
Cancer affects all of us in one way or another at some point in our lives so let’s all keep fighting the battle and lets DRIVE OUT CANCER
# posted by Alexis @ 11:05 p.m. 
