Relay for Life

According to The American Cancer Society "Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against this disease". At RFL, teams camp out at a local high school and take turns walking or running around a track. RFL is an overnight event (in our case 7pm-7am) because "cancer never sleeps" and neither will we this night.

When Mina and Andrew came and asked me if I would help sign people up for RFL during lunches at Falls, I told them I'd help out. I honestly wasn't too thrilled about it, giving up my lunch was not something I was looking forward to. I am REALLY bad at saying no when somebody asks me to help out though, so I was dragged in.

For the first week or two I signed people up, but we didn't get much support. I didn't really wanna help out, nobody I knew was being affected by cancer then, I wasn't personally interested.

Three weeks have past since I told Mina and Andrew I would help them out. My attitude has COMPLETLEY changed. One of my friends from Aragon was diagnosed with Leukemia a little over a week ago. A teacher my mom works with was also diagnosed with Leukemia last week. And Layla Grace is a precious two year old dying of cancer. Within a month my life seems full of people battling cancer.

And then I remember Warren. He was one of my best friends growing up, and he also had cancer. I remember going to the hospital every other day to see him. When he lost his hair during chemotherapy, he would always play dress up with me and would always wear my girly wigs, just to make me laugh. I loved Warren, didn't make a diff if he was sick or not.

I wonder how three weeks ago I wasn't concerned and ready to do my all to help this fight. How was I concerned about giving up my lunch to fight cancer??

I'm doing my all now to help RFL. I'm going to help Mina and andrew here at falls, sign up as many people as I can. I'm going to try to get a group going at langham to support Devin, and talk to somebody I know at samspon to see if they would be interested in getting a team together for RFL.

RFL is not for another month and a half, but until then I'm going to do my best to get as many people signed up. For Devin, Layla Grace, mrs Katrina, and Warren. For everybody.

"... so there can be a world with more birthdays" -- American Cancer Society