Let's Save Some Lives Together!

My Reason to Relay

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is more than just an event to me.  It is a way for me to celebrate 25 years that might not have happened, at least for me.

On September 26, 1985, I heard those words, “The frozen section indicates a malignancy.”  Maybe I was still feeling the effects of the anesthesia.  “Did you say malignancy?”  And, with that, the journey began.

During the ensuing months of tests, radiation therapy and recovery, I never once said “Why me?”  I really felt “Why not me?  Let's get this done.”  I had great care and support from doctors, radiation therapists, friends and family.  While not an enjoyable experience, I did get through it in one piece, mostly, and have been so fortunate ever since.

I Relay to honor the efforts of those people who helped give me a Second Birthday, which I celebrate every December 12th (the last day of Radiation Therapy).

I Relay to honor the many other Survivors in my life – among them, my sister-in-law Betty, my cousin Lorraine, and my “little sister” Donna, who continues to wage a heroic, successful battle with this nasty nemesis.

I Relay to honor the memory of my Dad, who lost his battle with cancer in 1975, and my aunt Norma, who passed away in 2001.

I Relay to help raise awareness in my community.

However, my primary reason to Relay is that I hope that my fund-raising efforts will give cancer research that one final push up the hill so that, one day soon, the words “…indicates a malignancy” will never again be uttered.

I truly believe that day will come.  The American Cancer Society has funded the research efforts of 44 Nobel Laureates.  That is an astonishing track record.

It's amazing to think that millions of people will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Somebody close to us may be one of them.

But, by taking part in Relay, I am helping the American Cancer Society save lives by:

• Helping people stay well by helping them take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable
• Helping people get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience
• Finding cures by funding groundbreaking research that helps us understand cancer’s causes, determine how best to prevent it and discover new ways to cure it
• Fighting back by working with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and rally communities worldwide to join the fight

Please support my efforts by making a donation or by joining my Relay For Life team. Together, we have the power to help create a world where cancer can no longer claim another year of anyone’s life.

To print an offline donation form, click here.