Over the years, of Relay For Life campaigning, we are always asked 'Why Do You Relay?' There are a million reasons and every one is personal. Many will rip your heart out and make you feel sad. Many expose our own fears about cancer and our chances of hearing those words that no one ever wants to hear, 'You have cancer'.
I have all those feelings but I have one more that has grown in me over the years. I Just get Pissed Off And Want To Be There When Cancer Dies!!
This past month I asked The Cure Chasers to send me their reasons for being in RFL. I have chosen two to include here. Later in the week I will include things that are extremely personal to me. It is important to know why we do this every year. Hiding from our unpleasant memories only makes them grow into something that becomes unmanageable for us to handle. I am just warning you because some things I will not sugar coat. Because I believe that a solid shot of reality is what is needed to open peoples eyes.
Only I will know who wrote these. I have not edited what was sent to me because it is important that these words speak for themselves as the writer intended.
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In 1991 my mother, and 2 of my sisters were hit with the bad news that all 3 had breast cancer. In 1994 within one week I lost both my sisters to this disease. My Mom is a survivor because hers was caught early. Other family members have been lost to cancer including several aunts and uncles and a mother-in-law.
Why I joined Relay?
Well my first year was accidental. I met you and Thinkie and if you recall found myself stumbling through a lap.
Why I do it now? Tricky. My family and friends have not been affected by cancer. My father technically died from lung cancer but he had bronchial problems all his life and loved his cigars!! He went at 71 years so no issues with that really.
An Aunt who I think you would have liked - independent and opinionated and had a springer spaniel - died through a heart attack. But she was suffering from motor neurone and refused to let it defeat her hence the heart attack.
But I saw her decline from this great woman who all my cousins loved and looked up to. If our little contributions help someone somewhere then that is worthwhile.
We will never cure cancer in our lifetime but every little bit helps. So many cancers lets defeat them even if it is one by one. They are individual smallpox. Stem cell technology and genetics will get us there.
Basically I do it because it has to be done
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I chose these two writings because they are so far apart in reasoning. One expresses Personal Loss that drives their motives to help. The other espouses the Personal Responsibility that is so important in living ones life.
The point here is that we can not stand by and let anything destroy the things we love. We can not stand by and watch others affected by anything that is life threatening. Our motives, for joining Relay, are as varied as much as each snow flake is different.
But our goal has always been the same and we stand shoulder to shoulder to achieve that goal.
KICK CANCERS ASS!!!
Love ya,
Night
Go Relay
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