Why I Relay 


In the words of Relay Participants

"Ovarian cancer doesn't shout, it whispers. Relay is a way for me to shout back."
(see more quotes below)

Would you like to share your story of why you Relay?

Testimonials from Your Fellow Relayers
 
"My daughter Samantha became ill in September of 2005, and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins B-cell lymphoma in March of 2006. She was 12. She received 7 rounds of chemo and was still not rid of her cancer. She was admitted to Children's Hospital in Boston in October of 2006. She received more chemo and several radiation treatments to get her ready for her lifesaving bone marrow transplant.  Samantha went through hell that year, and she was not the only one. The bone marrow floor and the cancer floor at Children's Hospital were full!! It was full of young patients just like Sam going through the same painful process that Sam was going through. I would walk down the halls and peek into each room. I would see the caregivers standing over their children, all looking tired and worn, forcing smiles. Fighting. The children, all with beautiful bald heads, eyes glazed from pain and medications. Fighting. The nurses hustling trying to keep everyone medicated and comfortable. Fighting. Doctors making morning rounds, afternoon rounds, and middle of the night emergency calls. Fighting. I would hear the constant beeping of IV machines, as well as other life support devices, noises that at times made me want to scream.  Some, like Sam, made it off the floors, and back into society, while others did not. As soon as one little fighter moved out, another moved in. And on and on it goes, and has for years and years.  When will it end? We need to keep fighting."
- Susan Morrissey of Massachusetts

"My reason for Relaying is twofold. 1) I honor four close friends and two relatives who died from various cancers; and 2) I myself am a five-time survivor. I have seen the advancements over the past 12 years on how cancer treatments can be delivered.  The procedure I had last year, for my third lung cancer, wasn't even a "twinkle" in someone's eye 12 years ago.  I walked out of the hospital the same day I was admitted, and yes, the tumor in my lung was gone.  I Relay for more advances in research for both the treatment & prevention of cancer."
- Ray Hirx of Massachusetts

"I Relay for my "MOM" She is my reason. On september of '07 my mom found out that after 6 years her cancer had returned. She went through chemo this past year but found out at her last chemo in May it was not working. So she had to start a new type of chemo which makes her have a horrible rash. My mom is my hero; she is my best friend. I will do anything for my mom. She is my reason I stand up and fight. My family and I will stand up and fight for a cure for ovarian cancer."
- Shannon Fleurant of Maine 

"Well, to start off, when I was 5 years old during the Christmas of 97' I started out having a really bad caugh and cold I went to the doctor's and he told my family I had a heart murmur. I ended up getting rushed to Floating Hospital, Tufts's New England Medical Center in Boston, where on January 2, 1998, my 6th birthday, I officially got diagnosed with Non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma with a tumor around my left lung and heart. I ended up having two years of chemo and went through very little radiation.  In 1998 I was already in remission. It was such a tough time for a 6 year old. Now I am 16, so I have been in remission for 10 years, which I thank God for. Just when I  thought it was over, in June 2008, the doctors found a nodule on my thyroid gland during one of my yearly check-ups in Boston. A biopsy showed it was thyroid cancer. On Aug. 26 I ended up getting my whole thyroid gland removed. I had some short-term side effects of hypothyroidism that seemed like forever to me.  It took a while for me to get on a thyroid replacement medication which I just started December of 2008. I am still not 100% ok. So now I am a 2-times cancer survivor and will continue to fight back. I have gone through so much because of cancer and I have had friends that have gone through it and survived and friends and family that have fought so hard but didn't make it. . . My first roomate in the hospital was only 4 years old when she passed away . . . I don't want to see anymore suffering from this illness . . . I want to continue to fight back and continue to be a survivor." 
- Nita Rajani of Massachusetts 

"I RELAY with my breast cancer survivor friends & family because it really is an important part of my life. This will be my 9th year doing RELAY. We have all been touched by cancer, not only breast cancer, but other types of cancer with family members & friends.  I am in hopes that one day through all our efforts this dreadful disease will be cured.  That is what it is all about.  I am a 15-year breast cancer survivor and count my blessings each day I can get up & feel healthy & cancer free. This is my wish for all survivors at RELAY."
- Kathy Perkins of Maine

"I Relay because our efforts pay for research and the research is working.  My grandmother lived just four months after her diagnosis in 1986.  Research created a vaccine for the cancer my sister beat, bought precious months for my uncle to spend with us before he passed and enabled my mom to get an early diagnosis, resulting in her being cancer-free today. I Relay because my mother's best friend wanted people to celebrate her life instead of mourning her passing.  There is something so incredibly positive about this gathering of strangers for a common purpose, to share, to grieve and to celebrate victories."
- Robin Whippie of Vermont

"I Relay for my 25-year-old cousin Zack, who has cancer (synovial sarcoma) and is still fighting for his life. He has had over 30 chemo treatments and numerous blood and platelet transfusions. He has such a wonderful attitude that amazes me and everyone else who knows him. My goal is to help raise as much money as possible to help find a cure for this horrible disease - CANCER. I also Relay for my in-laws who died from cancer, Wayne & Thressa."
- Crystal Bresette of Vermont

"I Relay because at the age of 28, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  I was pregnant with my first child.  And although brain cancer is more commonly terminal, I have survived five years thus far.  So I Relay to fight back!!!  My daughter will grow up with her mother there for her!!"
- Melissa Brum of Rhode Island

"I Relay as one way to honor my eldest son, who died from cancer at age 17. Through Relay I have found a way to add my passion and my voice to a group of people have been impacted by cancer and who care to make a
difference in the fight against cancer. "
- Susan Myers, co-chair New England Relay For Life Task Force

"I Relay for my brother Sam and my sister Jade, who lost their "Daddy Scott"
I Relay for my sister Laura and myself - we lost our loving mom
I Relay for Rachel and Nora and Chris and Ben and every other son or daughter who
has lost a mom or dad to the horrible epidemic of cancer.
I Relay so that one day soon no other children will have to watch their parents die."
- Nick Simmons Stern, New England Relay For Life Task Force

"I walk especially for my dear friends Jeff and Christine, and my brother-in-law Rob, who has  battled cancer three times and had Dr. Farber as his doctor as a toddler. Rob is now a 20-year survivor and a true inspiration of strength. My eyes still tear up when I think of the survivor lap last year. Along with my dear friends taking that walk, there were people walking that lap that I have stood next to at my children's sporting events or have seen in town and I had NO idea they were fighting the battle of cancer."
- Mary, Relay For Life of Hopkinton, MA

"My reason to relay is to honor the memory of my daughter Victoria. Our team, Victoria’s Cancer Slayers, was formed by our family and friends shortly after the passing of our daughter at the age of 6. Victoria was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma at the age of 20 months, separating her from her identical twin sister, Emily, for the first time in their lives. Despite intense chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and radiation treatments, Victoria relapsed twice over the next four years, and passed away on October 25th, 2002."
 - Paul, Relay For Life of Cheshire, CT

"I am walking again because cancer is a word we can all put a face to. It has no warning, no age restriction, and the treatment is debilitating both mentally and physically. There is no time guarantee on the words “cancer-free” and currently there is no cure, only a survival rate percentage. I am walking in memory of my Aunt Odette, my grandfather George Shulda, and countless others."
- Tonya, Relay For Life of Westerly, RI

"As a 16 year survivor I have every reason to walk for myself and rejoice in life, but that's not why I walk this year ... Instead I walk in memory of my best friend, Kathy, who lost her battle with breast cancer on November 15, 2007 at the age of 52. Over the past 4 1/2 years, even when she was sick with treatment, Kathy spent every waking minute supporting the lifesaving mission of the American Cancer Society...from caring for other terminally ill patients to making cookies for fundraisers! She really was an Earth's Angel and I miss her dearly."
-  Millie, Relay  For Life of the Northeast Kingdom, VT

"Relay was the greatest way I knew to do some thing for my mom, aunt, and uncle. They may be gone, but there are other people to help. I personally had the best time in my life. There were a lot of tears, and a lot of laughs, all night long."
- Susan, Relay For Life of Salem, NH

I relay to fight for an end to cancer
To bring the word from present
To past
To forgotten
- Liza Tuttle, New England Relay For Life Task Force member

"As of April 4, 2008, I am three years cancer free! It was such a trying time in my life but it really made me appreciate everything more, especially my family and friends. I lost my Dad and I recently lost a friend to cancer; both weren't as lucky as I have been. All of this has made me feel the need to do something, give something back.
- Eve, Relay For Life of Maynard, MA

"I Relay to celebrate the success of my brothers journey with cancer, to remember my uncle and sister-in-law, who we lost to this horrific disease, and to fight back by raising awareness. It really comes down to not wanting to watch another little boy lose his mom at a very early age because she didn't know how to maneuver through the health care system as someone who was uninsured."
- Lisa McCarthy, New England Relay For Life Task Force

"I am a breast cancer survivor and want to make my voice heard in this battle against cancer. I also have lost a mother, father-in-law, and most recently my best friend of 45 years. Last year I walked in her honor and this year I will walk in their memory. I don't want to continue to add to my list of people I honor or remember.
- Penny, Relay For Life of Wolfeboro, NH

"My Mom, my dearest friend in the world, lost her life to cancer. My Mom had developed squamous cell carcinoma/ skin cancer which was very painful for her. With such courage and grace, for six months she  remained strong hearted and hopeful that she would get better. She wanted more time....more time with her grandchildren. My reason to Relay is in honor of my dear Mom, keeping her "light, hope, and passion" alive to  find cures so that our children, friends, and family never have to be faced with or endure such a disease."
-Victoria, Relay For Life of Wilton, CT

"The fight against cancer is near and dear to my heart because my mom is a survivor and so was her mom, Grandma Libby. Last June, Uncle Chuck lost his fight. My Aunt Marcia has cancer, too. Thank God her treatment seems to be working.I am always energized by the 750+ survivors who walk the first lap."
- Sarah - Relay For Life of Gardner, MA

"In August 2007, my mom, otherwise known as Super Granny, died of metastatic colon cancer. She was a 14-year metastatic breast cancer survivor. This followed my father's death from cancer 15 years earlier. So, obviously cancer has changed my life dramatically after losing both my parents, as well as my mother-in-law . . . I am raising money to help researchers find better and more successful treatments and to get people of all walks of life screened for cancer, because early detection saves lives."
- Leigh, Relay For Life of Rutland County, VT

"My reason to Relay is in memory of my mother who died of brain cancer in 1979 and my father who died of prostate cancer in 2006, and in support of my stepmother, a 5-year cancer survivor."
- Paul, Relay Life of Greater Fall River, MA

"I Relay because I believe one reason I survived leukemia, when so many others don't, is so I could help others fight their fight. The Relay is how I give back to the world that gave me life."
- Kip Cleaver, New England Relay For Life Task Force member

"I relayed in 2008 with my soon-to-be-born little girl in honor of my mother, who succumbed to ovarian cancer four years ago this May. Mom was a fighter and she fought hard to reclaim her body, which was riddled with the cancer when the doctors finally found it. But spirit and determination is not always enough. Diagnosed at Stage 4, she held out for three years -- long enough to see me married but not long enough to meet her first grandchild, who was born the March after she passed on. What she wanted was a cure -- a cure for those who have the disease and better diagnostic methods for those who will develop it in the future. Ovarian cancer doesn't shout, it whispers. The Relay is a way for me to shout back."
- Elizabeth, Relay For Life of Cranston, RI

"When I was only 5 years old, my Cousin Caitlin, who was only 13 years old, died from a cancer called Neuroblastoma. I was young but I remember her as clear as can be. She would play with me and help take care of me whenever we saw each other. I loved her very much and miss her badly."
- Niki, Chittenden County, VT

"In November 2003, I was diagnosed with appendix cancer and, after many months of treatments, am now in remission. Not only am I walking because I am a survivor, I am also walking to support my sister, Pam, who is a survivor; my mother-in-law, Stella, who had surgery for lung cancer; and my mother who we lost to pancreatic cancer in May 2007."
- Nancy, Relay For Life of Nashua, NH

"In December of 2005, my Uncle Bill passed away at the age of 44 due to anaplastic thyroid cancer, a horrible and aggressive type of cancer that usually occurs in people who are much older. My uncle's life was cut way too short. Relay is a perfect opportunity to get together with friends and take a unified stance against cancer. It will be an event that is as fun as it is fulfilling because we will be fighting a deadly illness as a team. Cancer takes the lives of too many people way too early, and it needs to be stopped."
- Jeffrey, Relay For Life of Weston-Wayland, MA

"Cancer sucks! Just sucks!" That's a direct quote from my mother's journal. The next line was "Onward!" That moment, in between those two lines, I can almost hear her sighing, raising her eyebrows, shrugging her shoulders, and saying, 'Whatcha gonna do?' Then she'd return to whatever thoughts she had before the cancer interrupted her. She chose simply to live as best she could with cancer. She didn't like her illness to be construed as a battle or a fight. She just put on a scarf, drew on some eyebrows, and went about her day as usual. Maybe that's hope - hope that one day she could go back to worrying about insignificant matters. And perhaps its courage to hold on to that hope in the face of something so brutal. Whatever it is, its something to honor and celebrate. And, that's why I Relay."
- Jenny, Relay For Life of Middlebury College