Relay of Life
Comments
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The Relay For Life is ancruf said:I am going to do my 9th Relay for Life at the end of May! It is an amazing experience. ENJOY! HUGS!! Cathy
The Relay For Life is an amazing event, and certainly worth your participation. I was fortunate enough to be one of the original group who started the Baytown, Texas Relay For Life, and the experience was something I will never forget. It has now turned into one of the largest money raisers in the nation for the American Cancer Society, although Baytown is a fairly small community. The main backing came from the larger oil companies, and several other large industries in the area. Anyway, please at least check it out, especially the luminary ceremony at night. Ours was held at the local football stadium, and was filled with overnight camping sites, walkers around the clock, and lots of local participation. It is amazing what people can do when inspired, and this will definitely bring you to your knees when the lights go down, and all of the luminaries are lit. (We circled the entire infield of the stadium TWICE with candles.) Take advantage of this experience if you can. Hugs to all.
Judy0 -
I went to my first one last
I went to my first one last June. To say that I was awestruck would not do justice to what I was feeling. It had been my first walk as a survivor, and I couldn't stop crying. We had 20 people walking in our team and they walked all night long in shifts. It really is very emotional. Go and do it. You will be very touched. This year, I will not be walking it but I've volunteered to help out, so I will be there all night again. Hugs, Lili0 -
I will be in my 10th Relay For Life...I went 6 weeks after my surgery (in 2003)and I had the honor of respresenting ACS/CSN in Washington DC in 2006 at the Relay held at the capital around the reflecting pool. The luminarias were 7 deep and sooo awe-inspiring, as you might imagine. KathiM and I met and were part of the 10,000 who walked in honor and memory of our warrior-survivor-heros. I have attended more than one Relay event a year when possible.
If you can go, I highly recommend it! It is not a race~ no one is timed, so don't worry about not feeling up to it! The opening ceremony is a Survivors Lap~ to the cheers and hoorays of those who support and later walk with us. After sundown, the luminarias are lighted, and volunteers makes sure the candles within each bag stay lighted ALL NIGHT LONG and no ones light is extinquished...
There are activities, contests, food, all sorts of cancer awareness things happening. It is universally the LARGEST cancer fundraiser...and unlike "cancer specific" fundraisers, this one, which is an ACS event is all-inclusive in its funding. Not only does it go to cancer research, but also to Road To Recovery, which pays for those kind souls who transportmany of us to treatment centers, and other ACS programs.
It is heartwarming to be sure...GO if you can!
Hugs,
Claudia0 -
Not Walking?????mmontero38 said:I went to my first one last
I went to my first one last June. To say that I was awestruck would not do justice to what I was feeling. It had been my first walk as a survivor, and I couldn't stop crying. We had 20 people walking in our team and they walked all night long in shifts. It really is very emotional. Go and do it. You will be very touched. This year, I will not be walking it but I've volunteered to help out, so I will be there all night again. Hugs, Lili
Hmmmm...somehow, Lili, unless you have had your legs amputated, I do not see that you won't be doing a Lap or two, or 3.... and even so, you would get pushed around the track in a wheelchair! LOL
Reggie and I are usually the entire Team Of Two...and no one expects us to walk 12 hour shifts~ the point is to raise money and Be There! He and I raised $1,800.00 so I won an award for being the Captain of the smallest team raising the most money! Whooo hoooo
Ya know all those ppl who guilted us into buying wrapping paper, cookie dough, etc etc for all those years?? I guilted them back! When ppl asked how much they should send, I said, 3X the number of years you have known me! LOL Ialso gave ppl "luminaria options", saying the recommended donation for them is $10.00 and I would be happy to remember anyone they wanted me to ..I got $200.00 in donations just for luminarias! I took my own markers and stickers etc, and picked up the luminaria bags, and colored them at my tent site.
FUN FUN FUN
Hugs,
Claudia0 -
Yes, Claudia, after walkingchenheart said:Not Walking?????
Hmmmm...somehow, Lili, unless you have had your legs amputated, I do not see that you won't be doing a Lap or two, or 3.... and even so, you would get pushed around the track in a wheelchair! LOL
Reggie and I are usually the entire Team Of Two...and no one expects us to walk 12 hour shifts~ the point is to raise money and Be There! He and I raised $1,800.00 so I won an award for being the Captain of the smallest team raising the most money! Whooo hoooo
Ya know all those ppl who guilted us into buying wrapping paper, cookie dough, etc etc for all those years?? I guilted them back! When ppl asked how much they should send, I said, 3X the number of years you have known me! LOL Ialso gave ppl "luminaria options", saying the recommended donation for them is $10.00 and I would be happy to remember anyone they wanted me to ..I got $200.00 in donations just for luminarias! I took my own markers and stickers etc, and picked up the luminaria bags, and colored them at my tent site.
FUN FUN FUN
Hugs,
Claudia
Yes, Claudia, after walking 10 years for ACS, I don't know if I'll be up to walking this year. My leg is getting worse and I suspect it's the tamoxifen that is causing me to have my calves cramping up. Needless to say that after 10 minutes of walking, my calves are on fire. So, if I can't walk, at least I'll be at the Relay in some capacity, helping out. If not, I'll find someone to push that wheelchair. LOL Hugs, Lili0 -
Awwwwwwww!!!!!mmontero38 said:Yes, Claudia, after walking
Yes, Claudia, after walking 10 years for ACS, I don't know if I'll be up to walking this year. My leg is getting worse and I suspect it's the tamoxifen that is causing me to have my calves cramping up. Needless to say that after 10 minutes of walking, my calves are on fire. So, if I can't walk, at least I'll be at the Relay in some capacity, helping out. If not, I'll find someone to push that wheelchair. LOL Hugs, Lili
Bless Your Heart~ come to MY Relay~ we have a cool section, right next to the Survivors Tent for those who can't walk to Rock The Walk~ nice rocking chairs lined up for Rockers to use! No one is left out of this event!
I bet you begin the Opening Survivors Lap...even 10 steps~ one step for each year you have participated or for the steps equalling how many years you have been a member of CSN! LOL
Love you more than you know!
Hugs,
Claudia0 -
claudiachenheart said:I will be in my 10th Relay For Life...I went 6 weeks after my surgery (in 2003)and I had the honor of respresenting ACS/CSN in Washington DC in 2006 at the Relay held at the capital around the reflecting pool. The luminarias were 7 deep and sooo awe-inspiring, as you might imagine. KathiM and I met and were part of the 10,000 who walked in honor and memory of our warrior-survivor-heros. I have attended more than one Relay event a year when possible.
If you can go, I highly recommend it! It is not a race~ no one is timed, so don't worry about not feeling up to it! The opening ceremony is a Survivors Lap~ to the cheers and hoorays of those who support and later walk with us. After sundown, the luminarias are lighted, and volunteers makes sure the candles within each bag stay lighted ALL NIGHT LONG and no ones light is extinquished...
There are activities, contests, food, all sorts of cancer awareness things happening. It is universally the LARGEST cancer fundraiser...and unlike "cancer specific" fundraisers, this one, which is an ACS event is all-inclusive in its funding. Not only does it go to cancer research, but also to Road To Recovery, which pays for those kind souls who transportmany of us to treatment centers, and other ACS programs.
It is heartwarming to be sure...GO if you can!
Hugs,
Claudia
thanks you for your description ,, i already have goose bumps. I will be sure to be at the first relay i can and be so very proud to walk amoung our survivors.
god bless
jackie0 -
Lili! Come join me at my Relay in Westchester on May 30-31! I'll take care of you! We can limp together(LOL!!). I would love to meet you and would love for you to join me. Think about it! HUGS!! Cathymmontero38 said:Yes, Claudia, after walking
Yes, Claudia, after walking 10 years for ACS, I don't know if I'll be up to walking this year. My leg is getting worse and I suspect it's the tamoxifen that is causing me to have my calves cramping up. Needless to say that after 10 minutes of walking, my calves are on fire. So, if I can't walk, at least I'll be at the Relay in some capacity, helping out. If not, I'll find someone to push that wheelchair. LOL Hugs, Lili0 -
I have gone to quite a few
I have gone to quite a few relays also. I cry like a baby. It is so emotional. It is amazing to see all the survivors. White luminaries are lit in honor of a survivor and brown ones are in memory of. As you walk you read so many names. At night, survivors take a victory lap while everyone cheers and claps as you walk by. All the names are on a big movie screen that continues throughout the night. I tear up when I think about it. Lots of inspirational speeches from survivors as well as doctors. One year all the survivors dipped our hand in paint and pressed that onto a square, dated and signed it. A survivor quilt was made out of all the squares and it hangs at the cancer center. It is an awsome day. Our area hold the relay in June.
Chris0 -
went to my first earlier this month. I'm 3 months post chemo and wasn't sure I could walk the survivor lap- but I did and after going home, taking a nap, I went back and walked the luminary lap. It was the best part of having cancer--- being with all of the others.
In October I hope to walk in "Making Strides against breast cancer". We don't have one in our town but the 2 larger cities to the north and south of us do.
HOPE becomes CURE with each step we take
Bill S.0 -
MY FIRST RELAY
I FEEL LIKE YOU, I JUST FINISH MY QUIMIO AND SOON AM GOING TO START MY RADIATION AND AM GOING FOR MY FIRST RELAY AS A SURVIVOR ON MAY 16-17, 2009 IN GULFPORT, MS AND I SO HAPPY ABOUT0 -
Walk Walk Walkchriss26 said:I have gone to quite a few
I have gone to quite a few relays also. I cry like a baby. It is so emotional. It is amazing to see all the survivors. White luminaries are lit in honor of a survivor and brown ones are in memory of. As you walk you read so many names. At night, survivors take a victory lap while everyone cheers and claps as you walk by. All the names are on a big movie screen that continues throughout the night. I tear up when I think about it. Lots of inspirational speeches from survivors as well as doctors. One year all the survivors dipped our hand in paint and pressed that onto a square, dated and signed it. A survivor quilt was made out of all the squares and it hangs at the cancer center. It is an awsome day. Our area hold the relay in June.
Chris
This seems like an "only in California" type thing, and perhaps it is, but at our Relay's we can even make luminarias for the PETS we have lost to cancer~ I shouldn't laugh, of course, but I must say, something about that wrongly amuses me.
Here, those we honor or those we remember do not have different colored bags~ just the Honor or Support stamped on them. I love how at night, the names are shown here on a huge power point screen.
The first Relay I went to, a flock of white doves was let loose after the opening benediction, and for the closing we wrote messages on balloons and let them fly heavenward to mark the hope for a cure.
We also sign a quilt in the Survivors tent, and we of course have a themed Relay...Race for the Cure was last year, and most tents had nascar like decorations. At every Relay I have been to we have a soap-box derby of sorts...teams in cardboard "cars" in a race around the track~ always hilarious! We have talent shows, live bands, free food for all of the survivors and a BBQ~ Dominoes donates hundreds of Pizzas at Midnight, and the Elks donate a pancake breakfast the next morning. It is sooo much fun!
I do cheat a bit~ my sweetie's sister lives about 10 minutes from the site~ after dinner I go over to her house, take a LONG HOT SHOWER ( ahhhh) put on clean jammies, and go back to the Relay site to walk the lighted track...I feel clean and almost decadent! LOL
One More Thing....and this I have done each and every year. I picture all of your names from the boards, and I chant them as I do the laps. It makes me feel connected to you all, and I also think, if for some reason you can't make it to a Relay, you are there with me. In all of the fun, I never want to lose sight of why I am at the Relay~ so it is all of YOU who keep me walking. Just thought you should know!
Hugs,
Claudia0 -
There is one here in May too and I am going to it. There will be a team in honor of me. It is called I dream of Jeanne. lol Cute, huh? Their pink tshirts will have a cartoon like character of me coming out of a bottle. It touched me so that I knew I had to go and walk the survivor's lap at least. I have never been to one, so, this will be my first. It does sound very inspiring from what you all have written. I look forward to it. I just wish they would find "the CURE".0
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HOORAYJeanne D said:There is one here in May too and I am going to it. There will be a team in honor of me. It is called I dream of Jeanne. lol Cute, huh? Their pink tshirts will have a cartoon like character of me coming out of a bottle. It touched me so that I knew I had to go and walk the survivor's lap at least. I have never been to one, so, this will be my first. It does sound very inspiring from what you all have written. I look forward to it. I just wish they would find "the CURE".
How wonderful!!! I can only imagine how full your heart is to have a team love and honor you sooo much! Congratulations, and yes, by all means, do the survivors lap if at all possible!
Hugs,
Claudia0 -
I am deeply honored and touched!chenheart said:HOORAY
How wonderful!!! I can only imagine how full your heart is to have a team love and honor you sooo much! Congratulations, and yes, by all means, do the survivors lap if at all possible!
Hugs,
Claudia
I truly am. I couldn't believe they were naming the team in my honor. But, they are the sweetest friends one could ever have. I am blessed to have them as friends and coworkers.0 -
WOWJeanne D said:There is one here in May too and I am going to it. There will be a team in honor of me. It is called I dream of Jeanne. lol Cute, huh? Their pink tshirts will have a cartoon like character of me coming out of a bottle. It touched me so that I knew I had to go and walk the survivor's lap at least. I have never been to one, so, this will be my first. It does sound very inspiring from what you all have written. I look forward to it. I just wish they would find "the CURE".
That is so cool! I have never been to one myself. Maybe, someday I will go. I know there are some around here. They sound very inspiring!0 -
If you click on the link on this page for relay you can get a list of all of the events in your area. Also check on "Making Strides against Breast Cancer" link on ACS home page.Noel said:WOW
That is so cool! I have never been to one myself. Maybe, someday I will go. I know there are some around here. They sound very inspiring!
Bill S.0 -
That's beautiful, Claudiachenheart said:Walk Walk Walk
This seems like an "only in California" type thing, and perhaps it is, but at our Relay's we can even make luminarias for the PETS we have lost to cancer~ I shouldn't laugh, of course, but I must say, something about that wrongly amuses me.
Here, those we honor or those we remember do not have different colored bags~ just the Honor or Support stamped on them. I love how at night, the names are shown here on a huge power point screen.
The first Relay I went to, a flock of white doves was let loose after the opening benediction, and for the closing we wrote messages on balloons and let them fly heavenward to mark the hope for a cure.
We also sign a quilt in the Survivors tent, and we of course have a themed Relay...Race for the Cure was last year, and most tents had nascar like decorations. At every Relay I have been to we have a soap-box derby of sorts...teams in cardboard "cars" in a race around the track~ always hilarious! We have talent shows, live bands, free food for all of the survivors and a BBQ~ Dominoes donates hundreds of Pizzas at Midnight, and the Elks donate a pancake breakfast the next morning. It is sooo much fun!
I do cheat a bit~ my sweetie's sister lives about 10 minutes from the site~ after dinner I go over to her house, take a LONG HOT SHOWER ( ahhhh) put on clean jammies, and go back to the Relay site to walk the lighted track...I feel clean and almost decadent! LOL
One More Thing....and this I have done each and every year. I picture all of your names from the boards, and I chant them as I do the laps. It makes me feel connected to you all, and I also think, if for some reason you can't make it to a Relay, you are there with me. In all of the fun, I never want to lose sight of why I am at the Relay~ so it is all of YOU who keep me walking. Just thought you should know!
Hugs,
Claudia
How wonderful of you to chant the names of ladies on this board. I am humbled by that.
I love that you take a long shower and change into cozy PJs for the walk in the evening. Sounds magical.0
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