I can vividly remember sitting in my eighth-grade gym class, listening to a lady give a presentation about an event that was held annually in my town. The event was called Relay For Life. The American Cancer Society sponsored it to raise money to help those battling cancer and to help find a cure. Basically, people form teams of at least five people and walk around a track for hours as a way of saying “cancer never sleeps.” At the time, it sounded like a fun event, so my friends and I decided to create a team to start fundraising. However, I did not realize the immense impact that Relay For Life would have on my life.

Since eighth-grade, I have participated in five Relay For Life events and I am currently fundraising for one right now. From shaking the can in front of Dunkin Donuts to after-school bake sales, my friends and I have raised thousands of dollars throughout the past six years. Relay is a special experience that brings friends, family, and communities together with one common goal: to live in a world without cancer. Each Relay participant has a different relation to cancer, but all have hope that one day there will be a cure for this awful disease.

Each Relay For Life event that I have attended has been memorable and special. I remember listening to survivors and caretakers telling their stories and tearing up during each one. I remember walking countless laps around a track and staying up until 6:00 a.m. with my friends and family. Most importantly, though, I remember feeling like I was making a difference in my community. After seeing the amount of money that my small town was able to raise for the American Cancer Society, I knew that I was becoming a part of a special organization.

Everyone has unique reasons for why they participate in Relay For Life. I relay for my three grandparents who lost their battles to cancer. I relay for the survivors who won their battles and I relay for the hope of living in a world without cancer. I have seen cancer tear apart families and dramatically change many people’s lives. No family should have to face the challenges and heartbreak that cancer brings. No child should ever hear that their parent has cancer and no parent should ever hear that their child has cancer. I dream that there will one day be a cure for this horrific disease and Relay For Life has made strides in fulfilling that dream. This is why I continue to participate year after year.

If you have never participated in a Relay For Life, I strongly recommend signing up for a local event or even just making a donation. Colleges, high schools, and cities across the country now have annual events and it is a great way to get involved with your community. Finding a cure may take years, but I, and many others, will continue to fight until we achieve the dream of living in a cancer-free world.