My First "Relay for Life" to Help Fight cancer
80Our team is called "The Foxgate cancer Fight Club."
A great way to fight cancer
Last week I participated in my first "Relay for Life" walk. This incredible event is one of the biggest fundraisers sponsored by the American cancer Society. I joined my friend and neighbor Tom, in putting together a group of friends, family and neighbors for this event. We called our team, "The Foxgate cancer Fight Club."
Tom and I were co-captains for the relay because we are both cancer survivors. Tom was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme tumor which is an aggressive type of brain cancer. I was diagnosed with non-small-cell lung carcinoma which is a less aggressive type of lung cancer.
I was diagnosed with cancer in March of 2004 and just four months later, Tom was diagnosed. We have gone through this journey together as neighbor friends and I am grateful for the support. We've both had our share of ups and downs in this fight but we continue to thank God for every day.
© 2011 Linda Rogers
I was so excited for this race and finally, the day was here. Laura woke me in the morning by saying, "Linda, happy "Relay for Life" day." Laura and the kids made me feel very special as they got things ready for the big day.
Even the neighbor kids helped out with last minute preparations. They were decorating luminary bags which will be lit at dusk. The luminaries are in honor of survivors and in memory of those who have lost the battle.
This event in Hopkins, Minnesota was well organized. There were many events for survivors. One of my favorites was getting my hand print done for the survivor wall.
I got very choked up at my first relay. The opening ceremonies began at 7PM. All friends and family members of survivors, sat on the bleachers. Survivors sat on the track and could see the support system above them. The ceremony consisted of two speakers. One of the speakers was a two-time survivor of breast cancer who told the story of her courageous battle. When the speakers were done, the color guard marched in unison. Next, the survivors did the first lap around the track called "the survior lap." The second lap we were joined by friends and family.
As dusk fell upon the Hopkins High School race track, luminary bags filled with sand, were lit. The bright lights symbolize survivors that are continuing to fight the battle against cancer and those that have lost and gone to a better place. One of the most beautiful moments of the race was the "lap of silence." People walked the track either remembering those they loved who lost the battle or feeling gratitude for those they love that continue to fight.
Highlights of my first "Relay for Life" walk. I hope you've enjoyed my personal experience of this incredible event to fight cancer. My dream is that there will be a cure for cancer in my life time. God Bless all of you that are fighting cancer and thank you to those incredibly important people that support us and keep cancer survivors hopeful
© 2011 Linda Rogers
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This a wonderful thing because it shows how much we as humans actually care about each other beyond the sopte of anything else. I hope we never lose that compassion and I know in my heart that God will never let us do that. Life is an amazing journey with many, many challenges which remind each of us that we are individuals and also part of the world. God Bless You and All Those Great Folks. WB
Great and inspiring.
I'm so glad you shared this amazing event and the pictures made it even more enjoyable. Awareness is so important in this fight and you have made it quite real but also your positive approach will help anyone who reads this, I'm sure.
Congratulations. I have participated many time sin the Revlon Walk for Breast Cancer. It is an awesome feeling.
Minnetonka - excellent hub! I love the events and the photos. Keep fighting and stay strong:). Also - you have a beautiful family!
What a Rewarding Day for YOU Minnetonka. After reading and looking at your Wonderful Pictures, and Happy, Healthy, Faces, I too felt good inside. You make us Hubbers very Proud of You.
Thank you for sharing. I have been to the last 3 relays they certainly are inspiring. I really enjoyed the story and all the pictures that helped tell it.
My daughter and son-in-law also participate in this event. They are so proud and its a wonderful way to help the fight of cancer.
Great Hub, and look how pretty you twins are!
Cancer is a horrible disease, but it also establishes strong bonds between relatives and friends and even between strangers. It motivates people to love and care for each other. Thanks, Twin, for publishing all the beautiful photos. It makes me believe you are part of my family.
Dear Twin, great and inspirational Hub. I've already posted it to my blog. THe subjec ot my blog is of chronic illnesses and lupus. You're article gives hope and inspiration which is what I want to focus on. Not so much the science, AGAIN, KUDOS Annie
This seems like a great event and one that is also so needed. It feels good to read this wonderful hub, your photos adds to the writing and I can feel the joy through the screen.
Thanks for sharing!
Tina
Congratulations! And thanks for all the great pictures! The one with the words HOPE lit up put a lump in my throat...that's what we all need to keep going.
Wonderful inspiring hub, thanks for sharing. Take care.
Nice hub, i love the pics. It looks like you guys had a great time. The relay for life is always a big event in our town and i can never believe how much they actually raise for cancer. Its an amazing fundraiser.
Love this hub and the pictures are so inspirational and nice to see I am glad to know that there were a lot of people helping out and that care for this cancer cause.
The courage and joy shown in these pictures and the words you wrote cause me to cry in appreciation.
My nieces have been participating in the Relay for Life in Michigan for several years as they know several people with cancer, not all of them survivors. As a reporter, I covered our local Relay for Life last year, starting with the Friday evening ceremony. It was very moving. Good luck to you and your co-captain, Tom.
Linda: It sounds like you had a blast doing this. And I know you're already signed up for next year. You are a great gal. I've grateful to HubPages for giving me the opportunity to get to know you better.
God Bless
Tammy
A wonderfully inspiring Hub, Linda, Well Done and congratulations on your relay for life, and the brilliant hub that you have written.
The one thing That really stuck out to me is that the neighbor kids helped out. It is so important for kids to be educated about health issues, especially when there are more people with health issues today than ever before. What a great teaching tool. Voted up and awesome. :)
Great Hub. Thanks for sharing this. I hope you and Tom are all better now.
Stu
Congratulations on your first Relay for Life,a very inspiring hub ! Loved all the beautiful photos !
Awesome and vote up !!!
Dear Fiddleman-I am so thrilled to hear you've been doing this great event that helps to raise money to find a cure for cancer. I found it to be a really special event.
Hi Wayne and great to see you. Yes, I agree that it is so touching that so many come out to volunteer and support this cause to find a cure. I met so many wonderful people that day :-)
Thank you smithroyal. This event is really amazing. Even my teenage niece was brought to tears.
Thanks Poohgranma-I have so much hope that there will be a cure for this horrible disease. I'll be doing this relay ever year now. I know that these relays in every state has to add up to some good money towards fighting this disease.
Breakfastpop-Ya, it's a real inspirational event to be a part of. Glad to hear your part of the fight.
Aww, that is so sweet RealHousewife. I am so blessed to have such a loving and supportive family. They were so cute that day and made me feel so special.
Oh, b.Malin, that is so sweet of you. It means alot to me that it makes you proud. I am so blessed :-)
Tamarajo-I'm so glad the pictures helped you to feel my story better. Great job on doing three relays. This is definitely going to be an annual for me now. I had done a cancer walk for Park Nicollet a few times but this relay felt really personal because it was my community of Hopkins.
Hi Marellen-This is a great way to fight cancer. They do these Relays all over the world and I can imagine how it adds up to help in the fight.
Oh Will, that is so sweet of you to say that. I just told sis what you wrote and she let out a big, "OOOHHH"
Martie-I am touched that the pictures made you feel part of my life. You bet your family. This hub family of mine is very important to me. God Bless :-)
I'm so glad the joy came through my hub thoughtforce. I am so grateful to be a survivor and help in this fight. God Bless for reading my story :-)
catgypsy-I know, the luminary that spelled out "Hope" was another point that had me in tears. Even my niece cried as we walked the "lap of silence" as the "HOPE" luminary lit up the night.
Gypsy48-You are so welcome and I'm glad it inspired you. Blessings :-)
daisyjae-We did have a great time that day. Lots of love, support and fun as we raised money. It is amazing how much can be raised at these relays. I'm definitely making this an annual tradition.
spotlight-That's what was so emotional about this event- all the beautiful people working together for this cause to fight cancer. When I looked up at the bleachers and saw all those people, I was brought to tears. Very touching :-)
Your so sweet Hyphenbird-I hoped that the pictures would help tell the story and all the emotions. Thanks so much for reading about my first relay.
Danette-I bet that was a great honor to cover the relay in your area. Friday night ceremonies are very inspirational and emotional. So glad to hear your nieces participate too. So sad to hear of those stories of those that lost the battle. I so hope for a cure for this disease.
Thanks so much Tammy-I think your awesome too and am so glad I found you here on hubpages. God Bless for all your support and friendship :-)
Thanks alot Steph. This relay was definitely inspiring:-)Glad you enjoyed the journey of my first relay event.
Thanks Daffy Duck-It was really cool that they WANTED to be involved. It sure touched me :-) I agree that education is huge and what better way than writing about it and having pictures to make it personal.
Hi Stu-I am happy to say that I am Seven years cancer-free. My neighbor Tom just found out that his brain cancer came back but they caught it soon and he wont even need surgery this time, just chemo. Thanks :-)
Thanks kasmir-It was such an incredible experience seeing so many people helping to fight this disease. Definitely going to be an annual thing for me now.
Congratulations Minnetonka Twin. What a glowing outpouring of support and goodwill.
Thanks mckbirdbks-Yes, you are so right. What a day it was :-)
Very informative article.
M.Twin - A wonderful story!
I read it and smiled all the way through!
Congratulations on survivorship, and on your first Relay for Life! I did my first in spring of 2011 as well, and it was a life changing experience, all in good ways.
I especially loved the pictures included in the article.
Best wishes for your next relay as well!
Thanks so much femmeflashpoint. It was a really incredible event and I will Never forget it. Love to hear you also did your first relay. Let's keep sharing our experiences, it can help us both :-)
Fiddleman Level 5 Commenter 11 months ago
Congratulations on your first Relay for Life. We have been actively participating since 2004 and have found it to be so rewarding.