"What Relay For Life Means to Me"
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Thanks to all of you who took the time to write about
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I BELIEVE
BELIEVE.
It’s our theme this year, and it means different things to different people.
To me, it means that I believe in a time when cancer will be just a horrific
memory, a disease that must be explained to future generations. Like the
plague. Like polio.
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What Relay For Life
Means To Me I will never forget January 7, 2000 that was the day I was diagnosed with Cancer. The first thing I said to my mom is “I will just have to put on the gloves and fight.” I was 36 and a single mom to three kids. We didn’t even know what kind of cancer we were dealing with. A lymph node removed from under my arm was encapsulated in cancer. Two surgeries and many tests later I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I owe my health and support to an amazing team of doctors, nurses and a very loving group of family and friends. That year my mom went to the survivor’s lap of Relay in her home town. She created a luminaria bag in my honor which I still have to this day. She told me how amazing the event was.
Since 2000 I have had five surgeries, been hospitalized numerous times and have developed lymphedema, all related to breast cancer. But also since 2000, I have participated in many breast cancer walks raised thousands of dollars for the cause, shared my story, climbed Mt. Whitney twice (always sporting a cancer t-shirt), watched my three beautiful children grow up and most recently got married.
I have wanted to participate every year since but have always been unable to. I am so excited to be participating this year. I am the team captain for the Pink Pacers and our motto is “knocking out breast cancer”. I put on the boxing gloves in 2000 and I fought back and I intend to keep fighting. I am also participating in memory of loved ones lost and in honor of my aunt and most recently my uncle who are living with cancer and beating it.
The greatest joy for me is that my husband, my kids, my step kids and so many other family and friends are joining me for 24 hours to spread hope and to raise awareness. This is Relay for Life means to me and I am so excited to finally participate and as another team captain told me, becoming hooked for life. |
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What Relay For Life
Means To Me As you can imagine, I was devastated when I heard that my dear friend Mary had been diagnosed with Adencarcinoma of the lungs (lung cancer). As an IT professional my first response was to go online and research to learn more about cancer. I read that building a network of support of family and friends is very important. And that humor is very important, too. Then I found the Santa Clarita Valley Relay for Life at Central Park on the American Cancer Society’s website www.cancer.org. I was happy. I knew participating was our perfect antidote. Let me tell you the story of our group of friends. I first met Mary in the 4th grade at Riverside Drive Elementary School in Sherman Oaks. It was 1963 and I had just moved into a new neighborhood and I was afraid to start a new school. Mary had also just moved into the neighborhood and started the semester a little late. On Mary’s first day I walked up to her and introduced myself. We were instantly friends and by the 5th grade we were in a group with four other girls that had been friends since kindergarten. We were a group of six Valley Girls, ‘like’, ‘for sure’. Please see our 5th grade class photograph. We were Debbie, Carolyn, Mary, Bindy, Anita, and Anne (not pictured). Time passed, Anne died in her early twenties. Debbie and Anita both went to college, married, and had children. Debbie made her life in Colorado and Anita in Israel. I moved to Santa Cruz when I was thirty. Mary stayed in Sherman Oaks and Bindy moved to Santa Clarita. Mary and Bindy’s bond was always much closer because they were both juvenile diabetics. The remaining five have all stayed close but I stayed especially close to Mary and Bindy. We were the ones that did not have children, the three Musketeers. We have known each other as children, preteens, teenagers, and adults. We have known our families, boyfriends, marriages, mortgages, and divorces, and now we find ourselves in menopause, the best part. Truthfully, it has been Mary’s fierce loyalty that strengthened the bonds of our friendships. She has always placed her friendships first and does not ever let go. We all have her beaded necklaces. Sadly, Mary lost her dear husband, David almost two years ago. It was a terrible loss. And now Bindy acts as Mary’s confidante and caretaker. I talk with Mary every Sunday at 1:30pm. But Mary and Bindy, they talk everyday and they go out to dinner every Wednesday. Their friendship runs deep and it shows in how much they love and care for each other.
As I said, I was happy when I read about the Santa Clarita
Valley Relay for Life at Central Park because coincidentally Bindy has been
attending Boot Camp at Central Park for over five years. I knew
participating, telling jokes, and wearing our beaded necklaces with Bindy
with the Circle of Hope Team was our perfect antidote. |
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SURVIVOR
By
Laura Laughlin I’m going to make it to the Relay for Life this year.
I’ll be the one in the Survivors Lap with the weird fuzzy brown hair, moving slowly around with my tri-wheeled walker, perfect for outdoor terrain.
Participating in the relay this year represents a long journey, the culmination of tough times and determination to make it. And to make it here.
Shortly after I arrived in the Santa Clarita Valley, someone tried to get me to get involved in a team. No, I said. I just couldn’t. The recent cancer deaths of my mother and a dear friend were still too painful. Just the thought of them was enough to bring me to tears.
The woman -- a survivor -- said it was more of an inspirational event than a sad one. She then described the luminarias (my mom loved luminarias), which made me cry on the spot.
Sorry, I said. Maybe next year.
Then I got sick with what seemed be a mystery illness. More than a year later, in 2006, I was diagnosed with CNS lymphoma, a rare brain tumor that robbed me -- at times -- of my ability to walk, talk and see. While I went through the hell of hospitals and chemo, my friends participated in Relays for Life and other fundraisers, citing me as one they wanted to honor.
After more than a year of treatment and rehab, an oncology nurse at UCLA encouraged me to get involved in the Santa Clarita Relay. It was, she said, an amazing event and an uplifting one – particularly the Survivors Lap.
I had beaten the cancer and regained most of my faculties and was ready to be uplifted. My husband was going to push me in my wheelchair that year, 2007. But our online registration hit a snag and I missed the event.
In 2008, I was determined to attend. I went to the Survivors Breakfast at Robinson Ranch and can be seen on the SCVRelay website smiling at the camera, holding a pen and paper, momentarily interrupted from registering for the lap. This time, there would be no computer glitches.
A kind man helped me out to the car and folded up my walker for me. We vowed to see each other the next month. But two weeks later, I started feeling sick again. A week after that I had surgery. It revealed the cancer was back in a new form, throughout my body.
I never made it to the relay.
After another summer of hospitalization and chemo and a month at UCLA for a bone marrow transplant, I’m still here. I’m getting my hair back and most of my energy. I couldn’t go to this year’s Survivors Breakfast; I was just out of the hospital. So far, I am cancer-free.
My husband will help me unload my heavy walker for this year’s event. But I’ll be pushing it myself around the track.
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IN THE AIR TONIGHT
My first experience with Relay for Life
was one that captured my heart and desire to experience more Relay’s the
following years. It was a hot day when I arrived at Relay. The parking lot was covered with cars, trucks, and RV’s as far as I could see. I couldn’t even see the event from where I was parked, but I could feel a charge in the air. There was an energy that I only felt ever so often like during Christmas or on Birthday’s. It was an energy I couldn’t explain. As I make my way up to the event, I begin to see floods of people all ages, all races, and all genders making their way into the event. Reaching the front gates, my eyes become overwhelmed with visuals of all kinds. Booths stretch side by side on both sides of a large oval. Each booth had a different theme. There were balloons made into a arc that stretched across the track as if to mark the starting point. On one side of the track a band was playing various cover music. The atmosphere was magical.
I finally made my way to the booth in which I was walking for and checked in. My intentions were to walk my 2 hours and go on with my day. I then set out on foot and began my walk. Walking around the track I took closer looks at some of the booths. Many of them had fun games that you pay $1.00 for and win a prize of some sort. All the money raised went to the Foundation. Everyone I encountered seemed to have a spirit that I had not seen in a long time. There were no bad moods anywhere to be found. My spirits were lifting and I felt a sense of dumbfounded happiness. I really began to get into the Relay. I stopped at one place where they were spray dying hair and had my hair sprayed green and blue. I found some kids running around shooting each other with squirt guns and got in on that with them. The spirit was contagious and I was not going anywhere else this day.
Before I knew it I had been walking more than my 2 hours. Time flew by. I met many Cancer survivors and many that lost people to Cancer. My mother is a survivor. I lost both my grandmothers to cancer. So I have had quite a bit of experience with Cancer, but it was not a Happy experience. This is what surprised me the most. Here we all are having fun, laughing, goofing off, and simply just hanging out together even though no one really knows anyone. There was a kinship in the air. As if we have all been touched by Cancer in so way or another and on this day we come together as one and put positive energy into such a negative disease. |
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What Relay For Life Means to Me
Relay For Life means everything to me, it shows me how very much I am not alone and just how very much I am loved. Each year as I start the relay I feel a magic come over me, filling me with strength and determination to heal and help others to do the same and keep their inner fires alive. As we all fight and stomp out this illness.
The energy and love in the air fills my heart and tells me that Cancer will be beat and that future lives will not end abruptly. Here I do not see bald heads and sickness, but here I see beauty, courage, and strength. Here I embrace my friends, my family, and my heroes and together we walk side by side to our future, a future that is cancer free. They say that Hollywood is where the superstars and legends are, but truth be told this is where I see the real superstars of life. Then with my eyes big and wide I soak up all of the true glamour and dazzling beauty before me. If the energy here could be turned into power we could light up the entire world forever. The energy here makes me feel invincible.
In the end, I look to the sky, no I am not a bird nor a plane, but I am ToniMarie soaring, conquering and surviving. I am Relaying back to life!
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What
Relay For Life Means To Me…. In one word …. HOPE. But I would like to tell you how all my hope was lost 11 years ago when I received the worse news of my life.. yes the word “YOU HAVE CANCER!” My name is Debbie Royce and I have been a survivor for 11 years now. But I suffered for many years as a young woman with “female” problems. I was married in October of 1997, and one month later was diagnosed with Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma and told treatment would have to be a hysterectomy. My husband asked the doctor if he could let us try to have a baby first , then do the hysterectomy but his reply was “ the cancer has spread to connective tissue already your wife would not last 9 months.” On December 24th 1997, I underwent a hysterectomy taking away my chance to become a mother, or so I thought. I couldn’t believe I was spending my first married Christmas in ICU. Shortly after the surgery my husband and I bought our house in Saugus and through ourselves into our work. He works for LAPD and I am a nurse. A few months later I lost my job. This is when the real depression set in. In late January 1999 my husband brought home an application for a nursing job at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys. When I called regarding the position I found out it was for the Pediatric ICU and Neonatal ICU. My family thought I was crazy when I took the job. “Are you sure you can handle this?” was the big question being asked by everyone but I knew there had to be a reason. I had worked Oncology for years before and thought what a nice change for me. I’d been on the job for 1 week when I was training in the Neonatal ICU and caring for a 3 pound, abandoned infant. My boss told me this beautiful baby was going to foster care. My husband and I sped through the paper work and had to take 3 months of “parenting classes”. After all was complete we were lucky enough to bring McKenna to join the family. I was home on a day off when I received a phone call from a social worker at the hospital. She stated a mother had come in, given birth and was unable to keep the baby. Was I interested? Without hesitation my husband and I contacted an attorney. The next day we met the mother, spent a few hours together and soon were asked to now be the parents for Reilly. This was only 8 months after our daughter had joined the family. I HOPE my story brings HOPE to other young women. Relay for Life offers HOPE to those going through the fight and HOPE to those continuing to remain a survivor! Thanks to Relay for Life for keeping the HOPE alive for so many! |
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What Relay For Life Means to Me
I am a 11 year cancer survivor. I am an RN, I had a biopsy and when I was told "You Have Cancer", if I were not sitting down, I would have fallen down. Being a nurse and having a biopsy, you would think I would be prepared for the results. I had an irregular menstrual cycles for many years. I had a biopsy 5 years previously and several infertility treatments. With all of that, it really never occurred to me that the biopsy would be cancer. I had a hysterectomy and was told by the GYN Oncologist " I don't think we will ever see you back here again, I wish I could give this news to all my patients". So far he was right. It has been 11 years, but, from time to time, that question mark still comes to mind: Will it return, what if it is spreading around and I just don't know it yet?
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What
Relay means to me.... Relay means family and friends supporting me, supporting the cause, supporting each other and so much more. Relay means walking that first lap on the track and knowing I AM A SURVIVOR. Relay means just being there to lend encouragement to someone fighting the battle. To show it can be done, to let them know they WILL make it through. Relay is about remembering the ones we have lost, not to mourn them, but to celebrate their lives and all that they stood for......... Relay is tears of joy, and sometimes sorrow. Relay is about our community coming together at one time, to raise not only money, but raise awareness for this very complicated disease. Relay is awe inspiring seeing 3000 people walk the track, in the dark, holding their candles. Relay means camping out at the park in our tents and letting the kids stay up as late as they can. Relay is about walking those early morning laps on Sunday morning and reflecting upon how good we have it, and how great it is just to see another sunrise. Relay is being exhausted, and sleeping most of the day on Sunday just to catch up. Relay means FUN! Relay is the people, and the American Cancer Society and what it can do for YOU! RELAY IS FOR LIFE!! |
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What Relay For Life Means to Me
I am a Survivor
I never thought of myself as a cancer survivor. After all, it was only skin cancer. I didn’t have the same journey and struggles as people with other cancers have. There was no chemo or radiation. Just a two hour operation and a 6 inch scar to remind me to be more vigilant in the sun.
That changed last year when I walked in the Survivor lap during Relay for Life. A friend knew what she was doing when she invited me to participate. A few weeks before Relay, she asked me if I had dealt with the cancer issue. Sure, I said. I had it, it was removed, I have a scar. She simply nodded her head.
I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at Central Park that Saturday morning. I was amazed at the number of people who had gathered to fight this disease and more importantly, celebrate life. When we survivors started our lap, it hit me that I too was a survivor. I’m not sure how or why, but a chord was struck deep within me. Maybe it was the crowd of onlookers cheering as we walked by. Maybe it was the pats on the back or the hugs from strangers. Maybe I was just ready to deal with and accept the fact that I had survived.
I cried the whole lap. I cried from relief that I made it. I cried because my dad did not. I cried for all the friends and family members I’ve lost to this disease and the ones who are fighting now.
My friend explained to me that it doesn’t matter which cancer you have or what your fight was like, we are all united by our experience. We all were told by a doctor that we have cancer. We all dealt with the fear when we heard those words. We all knew that our lives were changed forever.
Relay for Life is where I came to terms with being a survivor. It’s hope and reflection and remembrance and celebration. And it’s where I vowed to walk every year until I can no longer walk or until we have a cure. |
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What Relay For Life Means to Me
I am writing this essay not from the perspective of a cancer survivor, but from the perspective of your everyday volunteer who just donates their time, energy, and a few dollars to an outstanding cause. Only cancer survivors can write from their perspective, anyone else trying to write from that perspective would only result in a feeble attempt at trying to capture the essence of what "Relay" means to a survivor.
However, we all know that "Relay" touches more than those who contract the disease and because of that, "Relay" is much more than "A Hope for a Cure." That is not to downplay the importance of finding a cure. We all know that is the end game, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. but, as important as "Hope for a Cure" is, it is only a part of "What Relay Means to Me." I have a friend who at a fairly young age contracted cancer, and during our first Relay he was too sick to attend. But my friends and I started a team in his honor and after six long years, two bone marrow transplants, and two stem cell transplants our friend no only now joins us every year for Relay, but was also able to go back to work at full speed and continued to work until his retirement.
That experience was only the first part of my education into "What Relay Means." I have been part of this Relay since its inception, and as the years of my participation progress, so does my understanding of what "Relay" means. I have made many other new friends since becoming involved in "Relay," and I regret to inform you that some of those friends were not as fortunate as the one I described to you. However, I saw the gifts that "Relay" gives to everyone, including my less fortunate friends. Relay gave them back the element of control. I know when my friend was dying, I felt so helpless and "Relay" gave me the ability to take a proactive step, and made me feel that I was fighting to help him. Relay provides sanctuary, a safe harbor for those who need to feel safe. The Luminaria Ceremony is not only awe-inspiring, but, cathartic as well.
The Relay Walk for Life not only brings together everyone from a myriad of walks of life, but it also provides a forum for all to work together altruistically toward a common goal. Relay allows everyone's petty differences to dissipate for a 24 hour period and demonstrates most eloquently the power of positive energy. It allows us to take a breath and count our blessings. If we could all take the spirit of "Relay" and transpose it into the culture of our personal lives, the world would be a much better place. Relay is everything that is right about society; Relay is a personification of humanity at its best. |
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A Little Treasure Team: My Reason Is ...
A second year of Relay is here--so full of excitement and expectations, A way to give back and eradicate a disease that affects entire nations.
We put up our EZ ups, tables, chairs and flyers in hopes of raising lots of dough, Not knowing the people we would meet that day and how our inspiration would grow.
The first lap, the Survivor lap, kicked it off but it was not who you would assume, Not only adults, the average ailers, but also small children and babies barely our of the womb.
The crowd showed emotion, in memory of loved ones and in honor of the fighters, And the day persevered; as we knew that we would be pulling an all nighter.
A little while later, Tyler stopped by to play our games, a boy of six in a bright survivor shirt, His energy was on high, his smile brightened our booth, you would never know his inner hurt.
"Tyler, do we know someone with Hodgkin's Lymphoma" his happy mother said. He replied, "Yeah me, but my treatment is done in March." As he picked the pen in red.
His focus was not on the disease he was fighting; he was looking forward to getting a puppy, The thought of his white lab that he would get when he was better made him very jumpy.
He did not complain or feel sorry for himself; I do not think he would know how, He appreciated each day he was given, and he lived it in the now.
Tyler, although to you I am a perfect stranger, to me you are an amazing treasure, The lesson you taught me that day will remain fresh in my mind, meeting you was my pleasure. |
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An Unforgettable Day
My first experience with a "Relay For Life" was in San Dimas, California. I went with a friend who was registered, and I supported with a donation. She had several relatives who had lost their battle with various forms of cancer, and at least one survivor (still thankfully in remission at the time). We arrived at this high school track. There were many canopies set up around the field. One for registration, and several for groups making money (afterwards donated) from selling sodas, snacks, and candy. And even more for all the groups taking part in the event. We saw the one from her church who had formed a team to do the relay. I know the whole idea was to have a team member walking at some point on the track throughout--but the spirit moved both her and I. We started to walk (I believe it was early that morning--not sure it was so long ago now, and I have participated in some context several times since that time). I merely could have been a spectator, but that is frankly not my style. Basically with nothing better to do, and my friend's willingness and determination to lose some weight we decided to walk as much as we could throughout the entire day into early evening. We together must hve done over several hundred laps of that track; at the same time commenting that we were glad no-one had signed on to do a by lap sponsorship (as that would have ended up to be quite an extensive cost). There were booths with information on the disease. These booths were also giving away Beanie Babies as prizes for answering five questions about the various forms of cancer correctly. that day I won a little camel Beanie Baby--I chose the camel--(because in me it conjured up the notion that tobacco companies lured young folks into smoking cigarettes with this cleverly orchestrated cartoon character of Joe the camel). It is some years later, and although he's faded from the sun; that little camel still proudly rides on the dash board of my vehicle as a reminder and memento of that day!
I remember walking around the track for what seemed like endless times, as entertainment we looked at each and every luminaries' bag that was placed there throughout the day. I had the sense that every bag had a much deeper story to it. Memories attached indelibly to that small memorial to a person's life experience or to the life itself. Some decorated by children with beautiful cheery colors celebrating life, but carrying a much darker aspect. There were plain one's that screamed volumes. There were flashy one's that showed all the love and attention relished on a deserving loved one. Every level of artisanship showed its head that day, every amount of feeling shared, every bit of attention to detail noticed, every hope and fear and prayer felt by all who were witness. I learned that day that I needed to focus on positive values in life, and how not to take even one second for granted.
As we walked I felt somehow less tired, more motivated, and actually strengthened. Those laps just kept going by the wayside, and each new pass brought even more to look at and explore as the luminary bags kept being added. I was amazed that where there had been huge gaps in the procession of the bags that we circled. By the end the entire track had been altogether circled. A new row soon took its position just far enough behind that they could be seen, read, and given as much honor and dignity as any other on the field. By this time the sun was starting to set and it was getting dark. Little did I know that the magic was just beginning!
As I made the next lap I saw workers from the event (the volunteers that put together these events must be congratulated. Their work and dedication to such a fête celebrated) come out to begin lighting each luminary bag. Each one took on a glow, and a brand new significance. Each one shone a tribute to the night, to the lives of those still suffering disease, those who had conquered it, and those whose memories of the losing battles burn brightest in loved one's memories. The track eventually was completely surrounded by candle lighted luminaries that took on a surreal visage, as those who never faltered kept circling lit only by the light given off by the bags at their feet. Then an end to all walking, and the beginning of the closing ceremonies started. The poignancy of that moment when the final dedications and tributes were made left an indelible impression on me. The tears shed, thoughts pondered, emotions felt by all in attendance there, that day, found new meaning. The stories I been party to; like the man with two children who had just recently lost his wife and the kid's mother to breast cancer. Those survivors like the one lady who had just been released from the hospital after a radical mastectomy who bravely ambled about the track with us. What these and many more people experienced that day was awe inspiring. A day that encompassed so many views, approaches, outlooks, encounters, considerations, perceptions, comprehensions, awareness's and outright appreciation are hard to come by! |
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Relay For Life |
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How to Help
the
Sick People
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Relay For Life |
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Cancer
Cancer is a bad sickness. People can die. If they cure the cancer then all the sick people will not die, they will stay alive. They will get to hang out with their kids. You get to play sports. They will play football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, hockey, frisbee, gymnastics, volleyball, yoga, and be with their families and children. |
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Cancer |
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Relay For Life |
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Relay For Life
R-elay for Life |
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Relay For Life
Running
for life is mighty fine. |
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Why
is it Important to Cure Cancer?
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