Hard to believe that in just under 12 hours, my family, friends and I will be gathered around a track, cheering on my hubby, my mom and many, many other friends who are SURVIVORS!!!
So, WHY do I Relay???
In July 2002, my friend/co-worker Sue passed away at the age of 38 to melanoma. Sue left behind a husband and two teenage kids...Sue's passing hit me especially hard because my mom had melanoma in her 30's and survived, it wasn't until Sue passed that I realized just how blessed my mom and family truly were.
Fast forward the next winter and my friend Mary V. approached a few of us at work about doing this 24-hour walk at the Stadium to help the American Cancer Society. This Relay For Life thing...little did we know just how much those particular 24-hours would impact and change our lives forever...
June 2003, we were a small (I mean small) group...only 7 teams that first year, but heck, we camped on the 50-yard line, we walked, danced, sang and partied the night away...I remember sitting in the bleachers singing the name game to anyone that passed by...5 of us from or Intel Orignals were even asked by the guest Luminaria Survivor speaker/singer to help back her up with Lean On Me...it was AWESOME (not our singing, but the experience)...then I remember walking during my first luminaria ceremony and balling my eyes out as I read all the incredible memorials and celebrations! I also remember sleeping under the stars and giggling too much with my friend Kimmie and Ellen shooshing us to go to sleep. I honestly had NO IDEA what my friend Sue's passing and Relay would bring to my life.
January 2004, a handful of us showed up for a Hillsboro planning committee meeting...again, little did we know where that would lead...2008 in Hillsboro we had 100 teams, 150 Survivors and raised over $125,000 for ACS....WOW, look how far we had come in just a few short years.
Now in 2009, a few changes and a new Relay for me and I KNOW this is where I'm suppose to be. I LOVE helping folks get excited about raising $$. I LOVE getting folks excited about helping out. I LOVE helping get folks working TOGETHER and making not just Relay, but the planning of our Relay a FUN experience. We have already raised $50,000 and we haven't even had our event yet...I know we are gonna pass our $53,525 goal and then some and what I really can't wait for is to hug, high five and meet all our wonderful Survivors and participants and hopefully get to know them a little more. To help make sure that they have the best Relay experience they can and to get them not just registered for 2010, but get them totally pumped up for doing even more for Relay 365 days a year...
My original reason to Relay was Sue...now it's my hubby Victor (38-year Survivor), my friend Big Philly, Jenny G, Gail H, Gayle P, Grandma Charlotte, Sue B, my mom and my #1 reason to Relay...for my daughter Charlotte, I never, EVER want her to hear the words, you've got cancer!!!
So, as I get ready to turn in for the night, I leave you with this photo...3 of my favorite people in the world, Gloria, Victor & Big Philly during last year's Survivor lap...Big Philly will be with us in spirit from Texas tomorrow and my mom is back from Hawaii this year, so she'll be walking that lap with Victor & Gloria.
To those we've lost, you will be in our hearts forever!
