Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in which participants create teams and walk to raise money for this organization. This event usually goes from the evening until the early morning. Up to this point in my life, I had heard of Relay, but had never really known what it was or had any experience with it. This year was my first year at Relay and here is what I experienced.
Firstly, I had no idea what to expect. I had joined a team for my friend and bought my shirt, but really did not have any clue what I was “walking” into (pun completely intended). All I knew was that there would be walking, food, and activities, but it was so much more than that. The night began with a speaker that talked about her battle with cancer and how she overcame it. Her speech gave us all hope, hope for a cure.
The first lap of the night was the Survivor’s lap and it was beautiful and inspiring seeing so many people walk it. People I had seen in school or at the post-office were walking with smiles and pride as they held hands with their care-givers. There were those who were beaming and of course there were survivors who remembered their battles and needed a shoulder to lean on. Seeing the cancer survivors walk really was moving. After the Survivor’s walk, everyone began to join in. As my friends and I walked, we jammed out to music playing and participated in some of the activities that were happening as we made our way around the laps. There was entertainment and it was overall a really good time. I enjoyed just walking with my friends and talking. However, perhaps the most amazing part of the night was the Luminaria Ceremony.
The Luminaria Ceremony involves a speaker and then a walk around the gym or the outside field you are at while looking at the decorated bags dedicated to those who died of cancer, who have survived cancer, or who are battling cancer. This ceremony is set after dark so that the lights in the bag shine brightly for everyone to remember and reflect on their own experiences with cancer. It was during this walk that I realized why so many people Relay. Everyone has had some sort of experience with cancer—a parent, a friend, a teacher, a classmate, or even that person. As I walked the lap with my friends, I realized how much it affected all of us. We all offered each other support as we looked at the bags that said “In Memory of…”, “Dedicated to…”, etc. There were bags that had pictures of family members and friends lost to cancer, inspiring messages, and dedications. I smiled as I saw survivor bags with drawn pictures and stories of their battles. People sat by their bags and were consoled by friends and family as they mourned lost ones and friends who linked arms with their matching shirts and tear-streaked cheeks. Walking that lap reminded me of all those I knew who had lost their battles, those who had survived, and those still fighting.
The rest of the night and early morning went by with more memories to be made of walking, counting steps, and fun music. The night ended with the grand total of how much money was raised and that made the whole night worth it. Seeing the survivors walk their first lap, the large community of people gathered together to raise so much money, the speakers talk about their connections to cancer, the Luminaria Ceremony and bags, and finally the grand total—that made it all worth it and that is why I now Relay.
