Relay for Life

On September 6-7, our family and friends participated in our first ever Relay for Life event. RFL is the American Cancer Society's flagship fundraising event--a two day, overnight, walk-a-thon to raise money to beat this awful disease. The goal is to have a representative from your team on the track at all times. At Relay we don't sleep because cancer never sleeps.

Just a few weeks after Dad's death Mom and I put together an amazing team of friends and family to help us on our Relay journey. Together we garage-saled, sent out letters, and fundraised like crazy. Our team name was "Fishing for a Cure" and we made shirts with the Jesus fish and the verse from 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting our cares on Him." At the event we set up "Larry's Bait Shop" and sold gummy worms, swedish fish, and goldfish crackers. We also played the Nintendo Wii fishing game and raffled off a brand new Wii. All of our efforts combined brought in nearly $7,500!!! Our original goal was $2,000 and we blew that out of the water. Thank you to everyone who donated their money, time, and energy to make this event such a positive experience. I cannot thank you enough for your support and encouragement.

It was also a very significant week--Dad would have turned 65, it was the one year anniversary of his diagnosis, and it was my five year anniversary with Brad. I knew it would be an emotional event, but I also knew that God would get me through it. At the luminaria ceremony--a portion of Relay dedicated to remembering those lost to cancer--a bagpiper played Amazing Grace as we all took a lap of silence around the track together. I had no idea this was planned, and it caught me off guard since we had a bagpiper play that same song at the closing of Dad's memorial. It was a reminder of him, of what an amazing man we lost, but of the hope that we have in knowing that he is with our Lord as Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mom and I were also asked to speak at the closing ceremony and I felt so honored to be able to tell Dad's story and to encourage everyone to keep fighting for a cure. I am very passionate about this cause and am counting the days until next year's Relay. I have been asked to be on the committee this year and will be helping with Team Development. They are even sending me to Relay Summit to learn even more about getting the word out and getting the community involved.

Just this last weekend Brad and I had another reminder of how precious life is. We were on our way home from a lunch date when the motorcycle directly in front of us was struck head on by a van that came across the double yellow when rounding a turn. Brad immediately got out and held the man's hand and prayed for him as another woman performed CPR. Unfortunately, her efforts, as well as the fire department's, couldn't save him and he died fairly instantly. This experience brought up many of the images and emotions that we both experienced during Dad's passing. My heart aches for the family of the man. I know how immense their pain must be. It makes me realize how each day is a gift, how we need to make every second count and how we must live each moment to bring glory to God because it may be our last. I don't want to list the man's name out of respect for his family's privacy, but please pray for those who knew him and who will be impacted by this loss.