Relay for Life

For 5 years now our family has been involved in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. This is something everyone can participate in and most everyone has been touched by it. Cancer...a seriously ugly word. My Dad started a team through our church many years ago and another lady and myself have taken over as the Captains. Every year we try to raise some $$ for ACS and than over a weekend we get our team together and take turns walking for 24 hours. The relay starts with the Survivors Lap....a very inspirational moment when you get all the survivors together in the purple shirts and they walk a lap (at a track or in our case, a field) and that begins 24 hours of always having someone on the track. The point is that Cancer never stops for breaks, you can't put it on hold. Someone with Cancer is dealing with it 24/7. Once it gets dark out we have a Remembrance lap...where we think about all the people we know who have been touched by Cancer. The survivors and the ones who are no longer with us.
Relay for Life is a way to raise $$ for a good cause however I think of it more as a way to raise awareness. My children are involved and do some walking and we bring our tents and stay overnight. They know, "wear your sunscreen, go to the Dr's for check ups, don't smoke, exercise"....because they hear it every year at the Relay. This event also brings people together who usually have the same story yet so different....they have somehow been affected by Cancer. And they just want someone to hear their story. We have lost an Aunt, Grandpa, and young friend....but we have not had to been care takers for these people. There are many people who have been care takers and they want to share their story also. While walking in the 24 hours it is impossible not to meet new people, not to hear new stories, and not to share with someone else. It is a great opportunity to listen, to pray for, and to tell someone thank you. That is why I do it. Raising $$ for a good cause is good....but hearing someone share their story and truly listening and maybe even crying with them...that is really good. Look up a Relay for Life in your area....I am sure they probably have one close by.



p.s. Last year my daughter donated her hair....yep, they have people come out and cut our hair if you are willing. It was a company similar to Locks of Love (just another way you can give).