Why Relay?

Everyone participates in Relay for different reasons, maybe even to appease a Relayer who keeps asking. ;-) It feels good to see dollars in action supporting local survivors and those going through treatment. The big research achievements aren't bad either!

I Relay in memory of my Grandma Lois, among others in the family, and also in the hope I don't lose anyone else I love the same way. Cancer survivors are amazingly brave at a time when most of us would crumble. My grandma was no exception.

In her five years with cancer, she lost her hair, grew it back and lost it again, spent weeks and weeks sick from the chemo, missed meeting both new grandbabies and greatgrandbabies while ill. She volunteered for experimental drug therapies with at times success, which has hopefully created an opportunity for another cancer patient since.

In that time she put on her wig and never missed a beat with her family and friends if at all possible, and still managed to keep up the card ministry at church and her yearly photo albums spanning every birthday, cookout, and holiday. That's more than I get done on a regular basis! Any chance to have everyone together was very important in spite of how she was doing. She took cancer with courage, dignity, humor, and tenacity, even the last day in hospice. Even still, I never want to see my mother or sister or friend that way.

I also Relay with/for caregivers, for their strength and patience at a time when other couldn't handle the job.