Relay for Life is a twenty-four hour event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Relay teams of 15 or more people walk at a high school track in shifts around the clock.
My Relay for Life was held three days after I finished Radiation. My parents and I signed up to be a part of the St Joe Bear Paws, a group of teachers from the St Joseph Public Schools. I had no idea what I was in for!
The event began with an opening ceremony of prayer, speeches, and song. Standing on the track with several hundred other cancer survivors, I felt the tears well up as the Olympic March was played. It may sound silly, but all I could think of was how I had always wanted to be an Olympian and here God was making that dream come true too, not as I imagined. For me, winning a gold medal could not top the joy I feel being a Cancer survivor and walking testimony of God's goodness.
Walking to the music of ' When You Believe' from The Prince of Egypt, all the Cancer Survivors took the first victory lap together. It was the best quarter mile of my life!! As I walked the track sobbing, all I could think was how blessed I was to come through this trial. People lined the track yelling and cheering. As I came into the final stretch people lined the track offering high fives. In my years as a swimmer I had a lot of great victories..but nothing compared to this!!
My parents both greeted me with huge hugs and tears. It meant the world to me to be able to share this with them.
After a breakfast buffet for the survivors, we went home for the afternoon. We returned in the evening to walk our 'shift' for the team. (Each team always has at least one person on the track at all times).
As the sun set the track was lined with luminaries. Each one contained the name of a cancer patient. Though it made me a little dizzy, I tried to read all the names as I walked. Some of the names I recognized from the hospital, some were friends. I was touched by the sheer number of bags. They lined the track 2 deep on both sides. The overflow went into the stadium where the word HOPE was spelled out.
At 10:00 the luminary ceremony began with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace, followed by a reading of the names from the bags. It was truly a touching experience.
I am really looking forward to this event next year, maybe even putting together a team from Lake Michigan Christian Center.
Please use the search engine below to find more information on the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. I get three cents for each time you use this link and I will be donating this money to the American Cancer Society so put your three cents in!!!!!
