Why I Relay For Life

I am a first time Relayer raising donations to support the American Cancer Society.

For those who are not familiar, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a community celebration and fundraiser.  The event celebrates the lives of people who have battled cancer and raises thousands of dollars to fight back against the disease.

Cancer has been a part of my life and a battle for my family for over seventeen years.  My earliest memories about cancer are from my childhood.  I recall at the age of eleven being requested from my 4^th grade class and told to report to the school library. My father was waiting for me there.  I knew something was wrong.

It was the day after my birthday.  I had just turned eleven years old on the 1st of March, a birthday that I also shared with my grandfather. He had been diagnosed with cancer a few years prior. As a child, I really did not understand much about life never mind death.  I knew he was sick, and I understood that his health was only going to get worse. However, I did not actually believe it.

See, my grandfather was a retired Army Tank Sergeant and a WWII veteran.  He was part of that tough generation of American men, but he loved being silly with his grandchildren.  He and my grandmother retired to Ossipee, NH where they found their dream home: four acres of land with a modest house, large garage, and a beautiful landscape.  They lived there happily for many years, and as a family we enjoyed summers by the local lake and winters hitting the slopes.  My grandfather spent the majority of his time being a carpenter in his garage.  You name it, he built it: furniture, cabinets, toys, and collectibles.  As a child, I believed he could do just about anything, and I expected that as I grew older he would continue to teach me how to do just about anything. But, he never had that chance.

As I stood in my school library, I had a sudden realization: I had never seen my father in pain before. His face was distraught, I could tell he had been crying recently, and he hugged me as though he was never going to let go.  He told me, “Papa passed away early this morning.” Then, we cried together.

My grandfather was one of four family members to lose their battles with cancer that year. In his memory, I am celebrating the RELAY FOR LIFE this June at Hormel Stadium in Medford.

I encourage everyone with stories like mine to share them and come out to support the ACS Relay For Life in Medford June 10-11. Many members of our community have been actively collecting donations, and I know they would love your support.

To make a donation, join a team, or simply find out more information about the event, please visit: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/ebsb