Do you know someone who has or is battling cancer? The plain truth is that in our lifetime, most of us will know a friend or a relative who will have to battle this terrible disease. It may even be ourselves. But did you know that there is an easy and fun way to help in the fight?
It’s called Relay for Life and it is an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. This year, my family and I have decided to start a team and do what we can for those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
What is Relay?
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At our Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school and take turns walking or running around a track. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, our Relay is an overnight event that is 24 hours in length. Every year we line the track with luminarias honoring those who have survived or remembering those we’ve lost. At 11pm there is a ceremony and a quiet hour where the only light is from the luminarias and you walk the track in silence looking at all the names. It’s an extremely moving experience.
Relay began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 20 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Thanks to Relay participants, the American Cancer Society continues to save lives.
Why do I Relay?
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is more than just an event to me. It is my personal opportunity to help save lives from cancer by supporting the American Cancer Society.
One of my reasons for Relaying is a man I've never met. My Father-In-Law succumbed to lung cancer years before I even met my husband, but based on heartfelt memories of his family, I am deeply saddened by never having a chance to get to know him. I'm also saddened for my children who will have that piece of heritage missing from their lives, only to know a shadow of the man he truly was, told in stories by loving family, but it's not the same as flesh and blood bonding with your grandpa. I would love to see a day where no one else misses out on knowing an incredible person because of cancer.
I also Relay because of stories like this: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lukejensen I just heard about Luke last Tuesday and a few days later, he lost his battle with cancer. He was 9 years old.
These are just a few stories of how cancer has entered into my life. I've had too many relatives to count who have had cancer and have heard too many more stories like Luke’s and I don't want to add anymore to this awful list. That is why I Relay.
How can you help?
1) Consider volunteering your time. In our local area, we have a Discovery Store (a thrift store where the money raised goes to the American Cancer Society) which is manned by volunteers. There are programs that need people willing to drive cancer patients to their treatments. If you have a friend or family member with cancer find out how you can make their lives a little easier and do it. You can find more ways to volunteer by visiting http://www.cancer.org .
2) Find a Relay near you and start a team. It’s really simple. Go to http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/ and in the upper left hand corner, type in your zip code and click search. After you start a team, start fundraising. We’re having a garage sale, selling handmade goods, collecting our spare change, selling Luminarias, the ideas for fundraising are limitless. Every little bit of money raised helps and the money stays in that Relay’s local area.
3) If you can’t start a team, find a Relay near you and just go to the event. You’ll have fun, meet some great people and all the money raised onsite goes to your local area’s fight against cancer.
4) If you don’t have a Relay near you, or you don’t have the ability to be on a team you can donate online. You can donate to our team: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Ravens.Rascals or you can find any team in your local area to donate to.
5) Last but most certainly not least, remember this number: 1-800-ACS-2345. For anyone who may have questions about cancer, or who may have just been diagnosed and feels overwhelmed, call this number 24/7 and someone will be there with answers.
Rachel Martorano is a stay-at-home-mom to 4 gorgeous kids. She enjoys reading, doing puzzles, crocheting/knitting and helping others. Her main project at the moment is actually losing weight and getting healthier so she can be at less risk of developing cancer and other obesity related diseases. Her blog is http://80in08journey.blogspot.com/
You can join her on her facebook journey to get healthier at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107037375994416
She is also the proud captain of the 2010 Relay for Life team, Raven’s Rascals. To find out more about her team you can go to: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Ravens.Rascals
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My mother died of complications from having breast cancer and I have had loved ones both past and present who had cancer in some form.
ReplyDeleteThis is a serious issue that most people alive today have some experience with in some way. I'm so glad that Rachel shared with us one way we can make a difference in the fight against cancer. Thank you!