No One Fights Alone

For 20 hours this weekend, I was out of the loop of what was going on in the world. I didn't hear the LeBron trash talk, I didnt' know that Princess Kate was recycling her clothes and didn't know that the blog about a girl in Damascus was fake. Instead, I was with more than 2,000 people who had raised money for cancer.

For those who have never been part of a Relay for Life, it is an awe-inspiring event. Thousands of people walking around a track, raising money and honoring those who are fighting a cancer battle and remembering those who have lost their battle. Participants were young and old, male and female, Christian and Jewish, black and white. Cancer does not discriminate and everyone at Relay for Life knows or knew someone at one time or another that has had to fight the cancer battle. I heard amazing stories of survival and heart-breaking ones of those who didn't win the battle. It's moments and events like these that make you realize what really is important in life.

Last week, a London teen girl became an Internet sensation. Alice Pyne has terminal cancer and created a blog (http://www.alicepyne.blogspot.com), including her bucket list that she created to share with her family and friends. She never imagined that she would receive thousands of messages from people around the world or get donations for cancer research from complete strangers. Her story has been told on several television shows and in hundreds of newspapers. Her bucket list ranges from simple to complex. It is anything from getting a massage to having everyone become a bone marrow donor to having the opportunity to go to Kenya, which is impossible due to her health. I am happy to say this weekend at Relay for Life, I helped Alice toward achieving on of these by registering for the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Not every cancer patient will be recognized like Alice. But, they do deserve to be recognized. Take time to send a card, prepare a meal or offer a ride to treatment of a cancer patient. Let them know how important they are to you and ensure them that no one fights the cancer battle alone.