Relay For Life

"We Walk because we can't Walk away and we will keep on Walking until we don't have to Walk anymore"

This past weekend, I worked Relay for Life. It was the most amazing experience. I focused mostly on the survivors and making sure they enjoyed the event. There was a little boy there, 14 months old. How can he have cancer? He's too young. Yet, he didn't let it phase him. He was giving out high fives and smiling and running around with his brother and sister. There was a girl who could not be much older than I was. Her mother and her walked together, both surviving of this awful disease. There was an older survivor who made egg rolls and handed them out. Many of the survivors joined a team, and stayed throughout the entire event which was awesome. I saw teams out there filled with college students, 12 year olds, older people, business colleagues, friedns, survivors. It was uplifiting to see everyone out there, walking in order to battle this disease which claims so many lives. 

Cancer can affect anyone: best friends, worst enemies, mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, teachers, CEOs, the homeless, children, and retirees. It is a disease that does not discriminate. Cancer does not affect one person, it affects an entire community. And it must be stopped. We must continue working until we can find the cure, and give these hard-working fighters some reprieve. We must let them know that they do not fight in vain, that we will support them always. And that is why I Relay. I walk to let the survivors know that I care. To let their families understand that I am here for support. I walk because it's one thing I can do to raise awareness. I walk to shed light on the situation. 

The survivors were the most amazing people I have ever met. Some had literally been on death's doorstep but fought back. Many lose the battle, and they will always be remembered for their bravery. One day, I hope the world looks back on cancer as a disease in the past. I hope it is like the plague or polio, in which we found a cure then a vaccine. I hope that people will look back and wonder if cancer was just an urban legend. The survivors made this event worth it. To see the smiles on their faces, the sweat on their brows, the determination to keep walking and keep fighting. 

I had to wake up at 7 in order to be there by 8 30 to help set-up. I was sunburned to a crisp because I forgot to put on sunscreen until 2. I know, ironic. People were cranky, I was tired and sweaty and it was only 9 45. And then 10 AM happened and the survivor lap began. I bawled as I watched that 14 month old lead the survivors. Tears slid down my cheeks as I watched these 50 survivors walk around the track. They were inspirational. They had all lived through it. It's because of these men and women that I Relay. 9 45 on Sunday morning was the second most inspirational. Many had left by then, tired from being in the sun or they had other things to do. But about 75 people stayed in total, and we did the fight back lap. It is the final lap of Relay for Life. It is meant to inpsire and incite. And trust me, it did. 

If you have a Relay for Life, I encourage you to form a team and go. It's a life changer. If you can't do 24 hours then don't. Give 1 hour, 2 hours, 10 hours. Do what you can.