Why 500 Miles?

So I'm writing again. Another blog. And while I had no plans to concentrate much on Relay For Life or cancer or the people who inspire me to continue year after year to volunteer for ACS and their flagship fund raising program, I'm only a few posts in to the writing of my blog and the topic is just that. I'm not going to write about what got me into Relay to begin with. I'll save that topic for another day. Nope. The topic of this post is what keeps me there. Why I continue to be a team captain with the Relay and why I am a member of the committee and why I try to recruit others to join teams, form teams, become members of the committee or contribute funds to the event year round.

I do it because last Tuesday, a young woman named Monica, only 33 years old, was taken from her three beautiful little girls and her husband after fighting melanoma very courageously. And so many of us watched that amazing battle via her Caring Bridge page and so many will still attend the golf tournament and 5k walk/run fund raiser that was arranged long before anyone knew that she would not be around to see it happen.

I continue to do it because our wonderful friend pictured below has been battling cancer and is one of the dearest and gentlest souls that I know in the entire world. He and his wife have already had enough heartache after losing one of their sons to violence a few years ago and truly do not deserve any more pain. He spent Easter in the hospital because he is no longer able to keep food down and had to have a feeding tube inserted directly to his stomach. There is nothing more they are able to do for him medically aside from keeping his pain abated. This illness sucks.

I continue to do it because little Grant, when asked if he ever gets sad about being sick, responds with "No because I have a really good life." Nine years old and diagnosed in March of 2006 with a brainstem glioma which could have killed him but instead with radiation and chemo he has been battling this beast for over a year. Rock on little Brain Tumor Warrior.

I continue to do it for people like Deb who battled so hard and is now so soft in her heart for other survivors and those doing battle. I do it for her precious and gorgeous little girl Zoe who is now leading a team for the Light the Night for Leukemia Walkathon. Because she is a tiny little powerhouse who rocks just like her mommy. Go see them both. You will fall in love with them.

I continue to do it because of the many cancer survivors I have met along the way. In real life (I call it 3D most frequently) and online. There are so many you cannot imagine. They all have incredible stories to share and have all walked incredible paths. They deserve kudos.

I continue to do it for all of those out there telling me stories of loved ones they have lost to the beast. As I have said, and will continue to say, cancer sucks. And until it is eradicated, I will continue to do it.

my dear friends

And so, 500 Miles because my fund raising involves walking and/or running 500 miles by the Relay and earning pledges on my personal fund raising site.

If you want to donate, and have a loved one you wish to honor, I will wear their name at the Relay and put it on our Inspirations banner which will hang there, too. Let me know. I'd also love to hear their (or your!) story of battling the cancer beast.

To all of my fellow volunteers, I salute you, too. I know how difficult it can get. Every new friend or family member to be diagnosed is a new kick in the pants one way or another. Hang in there with me. Write me and let me know you are out there because I've been hitting my own low the last several months as our committee numbers dwindle and the diagnoses rise.

I also hope to spend more time at www.relayforlife.org as we can find all sorts of great information. I'll write more about this later, too. You can find me there as KinnicChick, as well.