Relay for Life 2010

I have always felt the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" event was a transformative opportunity for myself and my family. This year, I had the unique honor--blessing, really--to bring several friends to experience Relay with me. I was astounded at what I learned from them and what we took away in our hearts after spending over 24 hours together.

Mid-day Saturday, we loaded up tents, sleeping bags, a cooler full of snacks (some healthy, others less so), a change of clothes and cooler weather gear and got underway. My teenage companions came to my house and my girlfriend drove over so we could leave together. All of us were excited because we weren't quite sure what would happen. Of course, I had reviewed the itinerary with them, but one just has no idea who'll be at the event, the impact of the survivor stories shared or just how it will affect you knowing and hearing that many families will be remembering loved ones who lost their battles with cancer. Relay is a powerful celebration, not a memorial. Yet, it gets into your heart!

So, we set out together, excited and jittery. Once we arrived at Osprey Park in Hunters Creek, FL, it was obvious that the crows had doubled--perhaps event tripled--from the previous year. The parking lots were packed and folks were busy setting up tents, tables, outdoor grills and so on in preparation of an incredible weekend. Tired from just loading up, I slumped into the first lawn chair I could reach and my friends jumped right into pitching our tent. After some sweaty moments of frustration, several gentlemen from a nearby campsite helped us out and raised our 10-person tent. God bless you, dudes!

That was a great start to hours of comraderie, serving, comforting and many acts of precipitated kindness and sense-"full" acts of caring. While thousands of dollars were raised in the hopes of eradicating cancer in this generation, the multitudes of families with cancer survivors or remembrances of loved ones gone on showed up to celebrate life. People came to remind the community that cancer survivors, like our men and women in uniform, are fighting an unseen enemy openly and bravely. I have many memories, mostly watching the young people who were with me make choices to get involved in the battle against cancer. As the event motto stated and I'm paraphrasing, Thanks for helping me to enjoy some unexpected birthdays and many more to come!