Feel good:

This weekend, I participated in Relay for Life, an overnight fundraising event to benefit the American Cancer Society:

At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

For the second year, I was on team Survive, Thrive and Endure, one of 164 teams that participated. All in all, over $241,557.10 was raised by 2053 participants (our team raised over $7000)!

Saturday night into Sunday morning, I walked 12 miles in honor of both of my grandmothers. It was a chilly night (much colder than I had anticipated), and I don't remember being as exhausted so early on last year, but it was a great night. While I had a good time with my friends, the cause and mood were not lost. Looking forward to doing it next year!

Relay for Life

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life:

At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

The Fairfield Relay was 12 hours, 6PM to 6AM on a Saturday night/Sunday morning. It was one of the most amazing experiences.

Here's basecamp: Team Survive, Thrive and Endure. My friend Jane asked me to be a part of this now 3 year old team, and we have 27 team members!




You can purchase a luminaria in honor of anyone--they then line the track with them. At dusk, they have a ceremony when they light them all.




I was walking in honor of both my grandmothers.




Survivor's Lap: There's a bunch of ceremonies that take place during the first half of relay, but none for me were as emotional as the survivor's lap. I'm all choked up writing about it.




Look at the happiness on these survivors' faces.




Team Survive, Thrive and Endure




An overhead shot of Fairfield Relay 2010. All in all, there were 1850 participants which made up 164 teams. I'm thrilled to say that Team Survive, Thrive and Endure raised $9322. In total, Fairfield Relay raised $213,977.54!



At sunrise Sunday morning, my body--especially my legs--was dog tired (I had walked 12 miles total), but I left with so much more strength than when I arrived. To my friend (and team captain) Jane, thank you so much for asking me to be a part of this. I can't wait to do it again next year.

(And to my friend Marty: Thanks for the Sugarbabies. And next year, let's not wait until 4:15 AM to run! :)

Literally running for life

This year I'm so excited to be participating in my first Relay for Life. For those not in the know, Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society:

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

I know both survivors, and people who--unfortunately--have succumbed to this terrible disease; including both of my grandmothers. It's scary for me to think that we've come so far in modern medicine, however, we have yet to find a cure for a disease that takes so many lives each year. I'm not one to use my blog/social media to go around asking for money--but I feel really strongly about this cause.

Won't you please support my efforts in Relay for Life? Make a donation to my team here.

Thank you so much; not just from me, but from every person touched by cancer.