Relay for Life.

[imabrat]

Have you ever participated in the ACS Relay for life?

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Yesterday was my first Relay for Life. It was very fun but very emotional. It was held at one of the high school's football fields, and we walked around the track. I did 8 laps, 4 of them in flip flops. For a kid with a knee replacement, that's pretty good - especially since they told me I'd never be able to wear flip flops again.
I did do the survivors lap, which was very hard. Our area is messed up in terms of cancer, and most of the survivors were kids or older people. You know how they set up the luminaries? Well I just lost a friend to cancer a few weeks ago, and there were several luminaries for her. Half way through the survivors lap I got to her luminary and just sobbed. I didn't think I would finish the lap, but I did because she was right there pushing me to finish. I got to the finish line and everyone started clapping - omg I started crying again.

Overall, it was very fun and I'm going to do it again next year. And now, for some pictures:

A friend and I painting our hands to put them on the survivors banner.

Our handprints on the survivors banner. Mine is on the left. They told us to write our names, but I edited them out for safety.

Line dancing. BOOYAH!

Hanging out in the tent, getting some shade from the sun.

These are all that I have uploaded right now, but when I get the rest I'll upload some more.

 

[princesskelz]

i am doing it June 12th!
i am so excited.


every year our Relay For Life people light luminaries to spell out the word Hope. i think its a good tribute.

 

[Babyjustrun]

That looks like fun
I want to do it before HS is over. My grandfather was a survivor of non-hodgkins lymphoma (however has has passed away since his victory) and cancer touches my family quite frequently. My dad went today to see a friend who`s dying of cancer, and he recently just lost one a back in December.

Plus it looks fun!

 

[imabrat]

Yeah it was fun. This was our first year doing it so we didn't really know what to expect. Here it goes from 12 pm Saturday to 6am Sunday. We decided next year we'll do our own team, get a tent, and stay overnight. Our theme was Pirates so there were like big paper statues of Johnny Depp all over.

Hilary, do they do it as part of the Canadian Cancer Society? Is there such a thing?

 

[Babyjustrun]

Of course there is a Canadian Cancer Society! Lol, yup they sponser it. It's the second major event of the year, the other being Run For The Cure which is in October. Terry Fox is pretty major. There may be a benefit concert in 2010 called Terry Fox Rocks or something like that. I'm deff there if they do (There's also a Facebook group trying to get Terry Fox's mother to light the Olympic Torch next year).

 

[StitchfansJr]

I was going to do it but you had to be in like groups and stuff. They said it was a 24 hour thing. Afterwards on facebook people who did it said that they're really sick from being outside for such a long time. They mostly did it in the dark with the track lit up. I might do it next year. I didn't know what group I should be in.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Awwh, that's amazing, Sonya

I'm not sure when RFL is here. I would participate in it, but I'm not supposed to be running/walking too much.

Going to a candlelight vigil tonight, for Kim. That'll be hard (and I know I'll cry), but all my friends will be there, and I know Kim will be, too, guiding us, helping us get ahead.

 

[HouseMD1120]

I've done one for several years now. My grandfather died of prostate cancer, my grandmother is a survivor of breast cancer, and my best friend has been in leukemia remission for 14 years now.

 

[meeshheartsdisney217]

I'm captaining (word?) a team this year. We have about 11 members our on team and I'm pretty excited! First bank night tomorrow. So i have a few things to do for it.

My grandpa has cancer, one of my friend's mom died of cancer. Someone else I know got diagnosed with cancer so it's played a big role in my life, so I thought i'd do something positive to stop it.

 

[pigletgirl]

That is cool! Is this something you will be doing yearly?

 

[questionmark]

The company my dad works for participates in it every year.
I've gone before when I was younger, and this year I'm participating in it for volunteer hours.
I wish I had more time to do stuff like this for reasons other than my college /NHS application.

 

[imabrat]

That is cool! Is this something you will be doing yearly?

ABSO-FREAKING-LOUTLEY!
LOL, can you sense my excitement? Not only is it for a good cause, it's fun, and it gets you outside and exercising. Oh yeah, and there's nothing bad about free food and trinkets.

The company my dad works for participates in it every year.
I've gone before when I was younger, and this year I'm participating in it for volunteer hours.
I wish I had more time to do stuff like this for reasons other than my college /NHS application.

Does this really count as volunteer hours? I didn't know that.

 

[pigletgirl]

It sounds awesome! I have always done the big Breast Cancer walk, but I think doing something like this is so cool!! And it also hits home in so many ways.

I also love the purple!

 

[DramaQueen]

I'm doing it this coming friday with my aunt & cousin.
I've done it twice before with my HS. And God is it ever emotional!!!
My grampa did the victory lap both years and I got to talk around with him to hold his hand, and he was crying! ANd I started SOBBING! I feel like crying just thinking of it.

It's all really fun, but the victory lap, and the luminary lightings are really tough. It's so emotional, but it was so amazing to see how it brought everyone at my HS together. It was such a beautiful experience both times that I did it in HS.

I'm excited for this year. BUTthis year it's 7pm tp 7am! I'm kind of nervous because I get tired so easily! And at my HS we did 12pm to 12am.

That's him & I



The saddest thing I think was that the first year my friend Britney walked around with her grampa in the victory lap as well, but he didn't make it to the second year So that was really hard for her and everyone.
God Im crying just thinking about it.
I'm excited for this friday though! It should be a great time!

 

[DollfieDreams]

ive never done a relay for life, but on saturday im dressing up as cinderella to entertain kids at a lupus walk. :3

 

[cra_z_dude_17]

ya I have done 2 walks in the past, but unfortunately I didn't do one this year.

 

[Ppufi]

I have one on Friday. I'm helping carry the survivors' banner, as well as help light the luminarias and man the store.