MaretHouse Mama: Relay for Life

My workout on Friday ended with me throwing up in the locker room at 6:30pm and I had to be at Relay for Life at 7:00pm!
I signed up to be a part of Relay for Life a few months ago. An email circulated around and I skimmed through it and assumed I was signing up for fun run/walk on a Saturday in May. Well, that was not the case. After our first team meeting a month ago I learned that Relay for Life is an ALL night event, that's right people....ALL NIGHT. 7pm-7am!!!!
I was exhausted coming straight from my workout with Paul on a Friday afternoon after a long work week, but it was an awesome event and I am so glad that I was able to a part of it.
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school stadium and take turns walking or running around the track. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. 7am-7pm! Relay For Life is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people to:

• Celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer. The strength of survivors inspires others to continue to fight.
• Remember loved ones lost to the disease. At Relay, people who have walked alongside people battling cancer can grieve and find healing.
• Fight Back. We Relay because we have been touched by cancer and desperately want to put an end to the disease.

Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a life-changing experience. At Relay, every person in the community has a chance to celebrate, remember, and fight back. And every person who participates joins others around the globe as part of this worldwide movement to end cancer.

I was fortunate enough to be joined by my boss, Dr. Donnelly, who has been battling esophageal cancer for over a year and a half. When he was diagnosed, he was given a 2% chance to live a year. Now, a year and a half later, he continues to fight. I was also joined by my another close friend and co-worker who lost her father last month to cancer. It was an emotional evening, filled with tears and laughter.

I did not last all night, but I walked for hours! It was an incredible event and I plan to participate annually. Below are a few pictures:

Dr. D sporting his Relay for Life Survivor shirt.

The bag we donated in Dr. D's name, honoring him in the Luminaria Ceremony. Hundreds of bags were lit to the sound of bag pipes playing, Amazing Grace.