As we have been prepping for our annual Relay for Life at Creighton, since August, I was more than excited to see how all of our hard work would come together.

As our student body spread around our track to support the first walk, the survivors. I thought about all the people who were here. All these people were here, because they know someone, they are someone or they have lost someone from this terrible disease.

Then I thought about myself, despite from being on the committee, why do I relay?

I relay because I lost someone from this terrible disease far too early. This woman has changed my life in more ways than not. Her name was Mrs. Christy.

She was our cheerleader. She was our Girl Scout Mom. She was our rock whenever we needed it. She was an influence of constant positivity. She was always a light.

I learned so much from her but I believe the best one was to never doubt yourself. There were so many times throughout my childhood I would and rather it was climbing the ropes course at camp or getting down on myself after a game. She was always there with arms wide open and encouraging words.

The day she left us, was the day God received so much more than just an angel. And on Friday night as I walked around the track, I thought of the day she was welcomed by so many I'm sure. And my eyes filled with tears but they were not sad tears, they were happy tears.

They are happy tears, because the woman who was so selfless, positive and amazingly influential was with me in that moment.

We relay to end relay. I hope one day Relay for Life will no longer exist. I hope one day no one has to hear the terrible news that their loved one has the 'C word'. I hope that no one ever has to experience the side effects of chemotherapy. I hope no one ever has to say goodbye due to the monster that takes too many lives.

I relay to end relay and to one day find a cure.