Relay for Life, Phillipsburg, NJ 2009

My family and I participated in our local Relay for Life from Saturday, May 30 through Sunday, May 31. For those of you who are not familiar with this, it is run by the American Cancer Society, and is one of the major fundraising events. In the past, I’ve normally participated in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, which supports breast cancer. However, considering the fact that I have ovarian cancer, I really wanted to do something to help support all cancers. So, with a teal ribbon head wrap to cover my chemo head, I got ready for a long night.

Yes, you read the dates correctly, this is an overnight event. Tents were erected to allow team members to rest up while waiting for their turn. It was so strange walking, for once, as a “survivor”. A lot of the ceremonies were honoring us, and we had purple t-shirts to set us apart from all the other walkers. As a survivor, of course, we were not expected to walk anything but the victory lap, with our family and friends, our caregivers. My husband, Brian, and our two older kids were registered on a team for the long haul. (*grins* The rest of the team did not show up, however, and they were “adopted” by another team. That’s another story, however.) The picture on the left was taken at night, where “hope” and “cure” and the symbolic purple ribbon were formed from glowing luminaria on the high school’s bleachers.

This event gave me some great opportunities besides fundraising. I got to talk to fellow cancer survivors: some I already knew were fighting the battle, and a few people I knew who I never even knew had cancer because they hid it so well! Lots of people got to tell their story, and it gave me the hope that I can beat this, and one day there WILL be a cure.