Relay for Life.

[imabrat]

Do you participate in your areas Relay for Life?

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This was my first year in the Relay for Life. I am a cancer survivor, and recently lost a close friend to cancer so I had some drive behind me. It was very fun, but very emotional.
I will DEFINITELY be participating next year, including staying overnight.

 

[Sal]

This will be our second year having an official team in the Relay for Life. Other times we have just gone and walked for a bit. It is an incredible experience, especially when they light all of the lumunarias.

Two years ago, my 25 year old DD was diagnosed with Invasive Breast Cancer. She is doing well today and our family knows how much good the American Cancer Society does. Our team raised $725 this year.

I would encourage all of you to find out where your local relay is being held and plan to attend.

 

[Katlyn]

We participate in a local community Cancer Walk and all money raised stays in a four County area.It is set up the same as The Relay for Life, and this year was our 12th year.

 

[imabrat]

Thank you so much. It means so much to get awareness about cancer, and fundraising is even better!

Sal, please give your daughter a hug for me? Tell her I said congratulations. And there's a hug for you too.
I would also encourage people to do the relay. It's for a good cause, and it's excerise! Although the American Cancer Society didn't do too much for me when I was in my time of need, I still want to help others.

 

[WeCantWait]

Do you participate in your areas Relay for Life?

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This was my first year in the Relay for Life. I am a cancer survivor, and recently lost a close friend to cancer so I had some drive behind me. It was very fun, but very emotional.
I will DEFINITELY be participating next year, including staying overnight.

Last night was my first experience with Relay for Life. It was awesome. Very emotional. I was part of a team honoring my friends teenage daughter who is a survivor. It was really quite a moving experience.

 

[honugirl]

A lot of my friends do Relay for Life since they're survivors.

I'm on the fence about it. The ACS doesn't put any money into my type of tumor which really bums me out. If they spread their money out better and started to focus more on the forgotten young adult generation of cancer/tumor fighters, I'd probably be right there doing it.

 

[aunties]

I will be participating in my third relay in June in honor of my 23 year old niece who is a survivor. She was 7 when she was diagnosed. We have a blast at the relay but the luminary ceremonies are definitely a touching experience. Just want to brag about my niece a bit. She just graduated with her degree in nursing and is looking for a job as a pediatric oncology nurse. She wants to help kids survive too.

 

[Mickey527]

I always wanted to but my chemo caused neuropathy and sometimes my legs go numb and give out on me. Can't have that happening during a relay.
But I do have two people woh walk in my name every year and I so appreciate that they are thinking of me.
Almost 5 years out, I will be considered "Cancer Free" on August 18, 2009!

 

[FireDancer]

Yes I do, I have even chaired a committee. The last 3 years out team has been the non-corporate team with the highest dollar amount raised. Two of my best friends are survivors so it feels very good to give to a cause that is personal. Our relay averages about $200,000 per year but we are anticipating a drop this year with the economy.

Congratulations to all the survivors and keep fighting to all those working towards becoming one.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I have participated in various ways in past years. My first year I worked the registration tent and my daughter was a Relay Cheerleader (part of the opening ceremonies). There were two years I was on the committee (Corporate Chair and then co-Chair for Luminaries). Three times I co-Captained teams. The last time it was a youth team with my daughter and her friends who were 10 and 11 years old at the time. They were the second highest fund raisers that year for a non-Corporate team. They raised over $10,000. My daughter was on a team one year after that, but we haven't been involved for a couple of years. It is a very moving event, though.

 

[preb]

I captained a team in the Relay for Life last night and I'm pretty tired today! Our team raised over $8000.

 

[Buckalew11]

I participated Friday night. My mom co-chairs a team. I haven't heard the amount they raised for her team. She herself(a breast cancer survivor) raised quite a bit (maybe 5 or 6 hundred!) but her team is Men Against cancer (prostate because that is what took my dad's life). She stays all night but she's like the energizer bunny anyway!

Congrats to you Sonya! And to all who participate and honor a survivor or remember a loved one whose life cancer took.

I think Relay is wonderful thing and brings about community and a common goal because cancer touches most everyone these days. Honugirl, I hope they soon research your cancer more. That has got to be very frustrating.

 

[tiggger1]

I am on the entertainment committee for our relay and also have a team of 28! Our relay is friday and our team theme is Cancer Stings, Bee Part of the Cure!

 

[imabrat]

Thank you everyone. Our theme was Pirates, so of course there were posters of Johnny Depp up everywhere!

 

[honugirl]

I think Relay is wonderful thing and brings about community and a common goal because cancer touches most everyone these days. Honugirl, I hope they soon research your cancer more. That has got to be very frustrating.

Thanks. Yeah, it is frustrating. But there's just no money in my type of tumor. Not enough people get it so they'll never fund it. Just the way it is I guess.

I'm also frustrated with ACS in that they have very few resources for people my age as well. They offer almost no support groups for people in the 20-40 age range. We don't want to go to a pediatric support group, so we're lumped in with the 50+ crowd, which makes for some interesting times.

There are a lot of other great cancer resources out there such as I2Y (I'm too young for this) that do a lot of good for people my age.

I do think the relay is good at bringing people together and my older friends really do have a good time at it and anything that keeps them motivated to keep fighting is good.

 

[N&B'smom]

Yes, this will be my third year as a team captain, last year I was the Event Chair. I'm a cancer survivor and I just recently lost a friend (and former Relay teammate) to cancer. Her husband and 3 children will be joining us again this year, the event will be dedicated in her honor.

I think it's an amazing event!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I've walked in the past with my father's team (the event in Jeff City is amazing!) and with my service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, that one is in a smaller area so it's really not well put together.

My aunt on my mother's side is a colon cancer survivor, technically my dad is a skin cancer survivor (basal cell carcinoma, we never even think about it because all they had to do was cut it out), and my aunt on my dad's side passed away three years ago from ovarian cancer. My best friend is also a leukemia survivor, diagnosed the day after her 18th birthday. She is approaching her five year mark! I have walked in honor of all of them. We won't be walking this year, but hopefully next year.

 

[tinkerbell615]

We walked this past weekend also. A great event. My daughter has been on a team for about 5 years. The last two years she has been a team captain. This year she was the captain of our own family team. We walked in memory of my father and really so many others. Also in honor of those still fighting. Our team raised just over $1300.00 and we are hoping to do better next year. My DD, DH and myself stayed the whole time and DH and I walked the straight 18 hours. A little tired still but well worth it!