Last weekend, I had the privilege of participating in the American Cancer Society's local Relay for Life. Although I'm still pretty tired (not sleeping for 36 hours will do that to you), it was an extremely meaningful event. I got to participate with 3 other women from my neighborhood and together we raised over $4000. Our families came to play during the afternoon, and I got to call Bingo and lead a Fear Factor event at 3am. To view some pictures, click on the photo above.
The most meaningful parts of the event were again the Survior Lap and the Luminaria Ceremony. During the Luminaria Ceremony, those who have lost their lives and those who are currently fighting the disease are remembered as luminaries bearing their names circle the track. Every participant in the Relay lines up on the track lighting each other's candles and we all do a lap together by candlelight. Since losing my mom and dad, it's always been a pretty emotional moment for me, and I was so glad to have my friends there supporting me.
Even though the Luminaria Ceremony was special, the part of this Relay that I'll never forget came during the Survivor Laps. I was telling Megan and Ty to clap for the Surviors as they walked by and Ty asked me why we were clapping. I told him that the people walking had cancer in the past and now they were better. He looked up at me and said, "Mommy, the cancer society worked!" A few minutes later, when we were walking together with the survivors, suddenly he shouted out, "Mommy, you did it! You saved people from cancer!" Sometimes I swear that my parents are speaking encouragement through my children.
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