So here we go.
It
is already the middle of January, usually by now we are well into our
Relay for Life season. This year due to a variety of reasons we are off
to a late start. That does not mean we are starting off slow. Once that
gate lifted, we took off and there's no stopping us now.
We
had a 'town hall' type meeting which get us started. This was a meeting
of the great and passionate minds that helped to lay the beginning of
the foundation for this year. Those who were there were asked to
consider being a part of the committee or to approach those they knew
who might be interested.
Changes to the way a Relay committee is
structured, possible changes to the event itself, were discussed.
Each
of us also discussed our personal involvement with Relay for Life, how
long we had been a part, why and what it was that we liked the most.
There were so many passionate people at the meeting. Each had their
favorite part of Relay, with their reasons being valid and strong.
One
of the main reasons for participating, we are all tired of losing
people important to us, to this disease. We've all been touched in some
way, shape or form. We've lost family or watched family members fight.
We've lost friends, neighbors, coworkers to cancer. We've watched their
fight, we've been there for them when they needed us. We've offered
support, cooked meals, given rides, sat with them so they wouldn't be
alone. We've cried with them, held them, encouraged them.
All the while we've cursed this disease and privately vowed to do
everything with in our power to fight for those who can't, to work
toward a funding for a cure, to remember those who have gone on before
us.
We work because we believe. We believe that it is possible to find ways
to prevent and to cure. We believe that we can help those who are
fighting so to make their battle easier.
Relay for Life is not just something we do to fill the time, for us, it
is a lifestyle. One that will be a part of our lives until we are
needed no more. We will fight until there is a cure.
The gate has opened, we are on our way. There's plenty of room for more
who share this same passion. Together, we can do this. Together, we
can make great strides to finding a cure...
