Help Me Help A Fellow Cancer Survivor Do Good

Image by Esther17 via Flickr

I always enjoy meeting other cancer survivors. Being a cancer survivor means you are a member of a pretty exclusive club, one that is filled with friendly people that always welcome newcomers. Having a life-threatening encounter with cancer has brought us all together and created a very interesting 'family.'

So let me introduce you to my newest 'relative': Lori.

Now Lori and I have been Facebook friends for a while, sparked by our mutual interests in farming and pets. But last week I found out she was a cancer survivor when she commented on my blog post Vote to Change How Cancer Is Treated posted on Facebook through Networked Blogs. She mentioned that Relay for Life was also a great cause deserving of time and donations. So I took a trip to her profile page and found that on a wall post she made about Relay for Life she disclosed that she was a cancer survivor too.

For those not familiar with Relay for Life, it is an overnight event that raises money for the American Cancer Society. On the night of the event, volunteers come together at a local running track with sleeping bags and tents in hand. They work together as relay teams of eight to 15 persons, keeping one person walking around the track at all times all through the night.

Here is Lori's wall post that describes the Relay for Life experience:

Cancer does not stop at nighttime: Relay for Life start at dusk and ends the next morning. The light and darkness of the day and night parallel the experiences of the cancer patient undergoing treatment.

• The relay begins at sunset which symbolizes the time the person is diagnosed with cancer.
  
• As the evening progresses, it gets colder and darker--this represents the patients struggle as they endure the emotions of being a cancer patient.
  
• The time between 1 to 2 am represents the cancer patient starts treatment. They become exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on, possibly wanting to give up. As a participant in the relay, you have been walking and feel much the same way. Like the cancer patient, you cannot give up.
• The time around 4 to 5 am symbolizes the completion of treatment for the cancer patient. Once again, they are tired, but they know they will make it.
• The sun rising represents the end of treatment for the cancer patient. They see the light that life will go on. The morning light...

Because Lori is a cancer survivor, she and fellow survivors have the honor of getting the relay started by walking the first lap together.

Please visit Lori's online Relay for Life personal page and surprise her with a donation of $10 or more towards her fundraising goal of $300. As Lori says,

"I Relay because I am a cancer survivor and I want to see a end to cancer during my lifetime. I want everyone to know we can beat this and survive. Relay gives me the unique opportunity to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and support the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving mission by fighting back against a disease that has already taken too much. Please support my efforts to fight back against cancer by making a donation or joining my Relay For Life® team."

Lori participates in Relay for Life this Friday, April 30. Please support her if you can and sending healing thoughts her way this Friday evening as she fights to end cancer.