Comments from our Relay For Life Kick-Off Rally:

WHY I RELAY...
                                  WHAT RELAY MEANS TO ME...

"I Relay because I want to make a difference in my community and I want to help those in need"
"I have lost too many and have too many loved ones still fighting"
"The time with family and friends, remembering those loved ones we lost and survived."
"I Relay for all my family and friends who have battled cancer."
"Since my wife and I are both cancer survivors, it gives me great pleasure to walk the Survivors' Lap with her every year."
"The support of this ACS is quite impressive. They are always there for you. The survivors are grateful for the support and recognition and the Relay For Life". 
"In memory of my grandfather who left us too soon. I want to see a cure for ALL cancers in my lifetime!"
"Relay is a way of showing that we are still alive and functioning. It is a way of showing how thankful we are that we survived cancer and are living a full life. It shows the connection we all have to each other, including the medical community."
"To help remove cancer as a widespread disease in our lifetime."
"My mom's life was taken because of cancer. I also had cancer. I want to help in any way to try to find a cure for cancer."
"I Relay because I like to help and I know the need to do this kind of work. Its a great opportunity to help my community."
"I watched my sister battle breast cancer and my mom die of lung cancer. My sister started this and it was so great to see the support! I want a cure for this disease so that my grandchildren don't have to worry about it. P.S.: my sister is a survivor!"
"For loved ones who have lost the fight with cancer, loved ones who have survived the fight and for a cure so no one else has to lose the fight with cancer."
"There is a lot of cancer in my family. I am hoping for a chance for my daughter not to have to worry about it."
"Remember my wife and friend. Hope that whatever the contribution, as small as it may be, would help to fight this disease."
"My mom, dad, grandmother, aunts and uncles all had cancer. I Relay for a cure. Hopefully in my lifetime. We all need to do our share."
"I have lost my mom (when I was 10), brother-in-law, sister-in-law and many other family members. My best friend is a breast and ovarian cancer survivor. This past year 2 close friends were diagnosed."
"I Relay to clebrate all of those who have beat cancer, those who are fighting and those who fought so hard but sadly lost their battle."
"I've lost too many people who I who I cannot share physical space with but still have so many others who I hope to share my life with for many years. Let's wipe cancer out forever-that's my goal!"
"Because I'm tired of going to funerals."
"I lost my mother to cancer and I am a survivor. I Relay with the hope that my 5 grandchildren will be free of this dreadful disease."
"Because I love my wife."
"For my mom, for the community, for the survivors, and in memory of loved ones!"
"Relay to me is a community coming together to celebrate the symbol of HOPE."
"My family has had many members die of cancer (dad-lymphoma, uncle-lung cancer and cousin with lung cancer now). Need to find a cure before more people die of cancer. I had bladder cancer 15 years ago."
"I Relay to honor those who suffered this dread disease. I then became one of them and survived. Relay is a time of comraderie that means 'you are not alone'. Thank you for providing this wonderful event." 
"I lost my daughter to breast cancer 16 years ago. Its because of her that I started to Relay. I wanted to be a part of the cure. I too have had cancer as well as my sister and another daughter. I have many people to honor at Relay."
"I am a survivor of 17 years and volunteer every year. I have lost family and friends to cancer. I celebrate their lives and miss them."
"A way to give back in the fight against cancer. In memory of my mom who truly taught me what it is to be resilient and always bounce back from a 'setback'."
"I Relay because I survived-and not all my friends did. Having a cancer that could recur (breast), I have to fight cancer and I know no way to fight other than to fundraise. When I was diagnosed, ACS was there for me-and Relaying is a way I can say 'thanks'."
"I do it for my wife."
"I relay because I don't want anyone else to have to lose their best friend (my mom) to such a heartless disease."
"I Relay to support my wife who attends the Relay and who is a two time survivor of two different forms of cancer as diagnosed in 1974 and 2007."
"I am an 18 year survivor and have volunteered at ACS for 20 years. This will be my 13th Relay."
"To remember and FIGHT BACK. I Relay so that I never forget the many friends and family members who lost their lives to cancer. I Relay so that I can be a part of the effort to raise money so that there is a cure. I Relay to 'connect and make a difference' in the many people's lives who have survived cancer."
"I Relay for my mom who  has CLL, my grandfather wh hav survived prostate cancer and all my friends who are breast cancer survivors. Relay gives me hope that one day there will be a cure for all those terrible cancers that strike all the people I love so much."
"I Relay because cancer took my father within 18 days of diagnosis. My dad had a very rare form of cancer that was not detected early. With research, this will not happen to other daughters, losing their fathers way too early. I also Relay for my baby sister who has battled cancer for 13 years now. I am proud to be part of an event that is so wonderful and helps me show my kids not everyone dies from cancer. With Relay, we are that much closer to a cure."
"I spent 2009 being treated for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. This is my victory lap."
"I will Relay to honor my husband surviving and in memory of my mother."
"As a two time cancer survivor I like to go to the Relay to celebrate life. It's also important to remember those who weren't so lucky."
"I Relay for my family who has lost 9 people to cancer. I Relay for myself and brother who have had cancer. Relay means community support that we are all fighting together."




 

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     FIGHT BACK through research! THIS YEAR, selected Relay events are offering the unique opportunity to participate first-hand in a landmark study, the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3). The American Cancer Society will be enrolling people into CPS-3, a long term study that will help researchers better identify the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. Please spread the word and visit the Cancer Prevention Study-3 website to find an enrollment location near you, and for more information about how to participate in research today for a cancer free tomorrow!

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Some photos from the Rockland Relay For Life, 2009