Fighting Cancer

Many members of my family have experienced cancer first hand. My mom had cancer three times, and the third time finally killed her. Her sister and father also died from cancer. My dad died of lung cancer and three of his sisters had breast cancer. One of my sisters recently had breast cancer and survived, but even for survivors this disease takes its toll. I have cousins and second cousins who are currently battling, have survived, or have died from cancer.

I also have many friends who have had cancer. Last year one of my friends died of cancer, and there are at least seven people in my church who currently have or have survived some form of cancer.

And so this weekend, I am walking in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Hoquiam, Washington. This event is a 24-hour walk to raise awareness of the devastating effects of cancer and to raise money to fund research to find a cure for the many types of cancer. From 6:00 p.m. on 6/4/10 until 6:00 p.m. on 6/5/10, I will be part of my sister Roberta’s team, the Daydream Believers, and we will have one of our team members on the track at all times.

When the Relay is over, cancer will not be vanquished. But we will have raised money toward our goal so that someday maybe it will be. We will have laughed, cried, walked ( a lot), shared memories of those we have lost, met some new people, been encouraged by the many survivors (wearing their survivor medallions), and been in awe of the 24-hour walkers who do on their own what we take a team to do.

If you know someone with cancer or have experienced it first hand, my prayers are with you. If you post a comment with your name, I will add you to the list that will go with me around that track. If you would like to donate to the American Cancer Society as part of this particular Relay for Life, click here and you can help me reach my $100 fundraising goal.

I know that someday God will take away all pain and sickness, when He creates the new Heaven and new Earth spoken of in Revelation. But until that day, I want to try to make the lives of cancer patients and their families and friends better one person at a time.