Cancer Walk

We had the cancer walk this last weekend. 25 years ago, a doctor from Tacoma decided that he wanted to raise money to find a cure for cancer. He ran for 24 hours around a track by himself and his community paid for every lap he did. I believe he raised 24,000 dollars. The best part is that this Relay for Life is now done across the Nation and in many other countries. A portion of the Money raised goes to the American Cancer Society. A small part also stays in the community to help with outreach programs(wigs, support groups). I love this event. It makes my heart very happy to do it. Our little community has a jobless rate of about 14%. Weyerhauser has completely pulled out of our town. We still manged to raise at the relay 450,000 dollars. That is amazing. I can't believe the generosity of this town. I like living here. People really do look out for each other.

Now on a personal note. I will not be a captain of a team next year. I was just too stressed out about getting things down. To planning fundraising events, to getting teammates to even participate, to thinking we are not raising enough money, to getting the campsite set up. I was angry a lot of the time and I don't think I should have felt that way. This was supposed to be for a good cause and I was so mad that people couldn't see it the way I did. Heck, I still get mad at my mom for smoking! The woman has MS and had thymus cancer. They had to scrape cancer cells off her lungs! But she is still wasting this second chance she has been given. Back to the relay. I have decided that I want to be a 24 hour walker. They are people who walk the track for 24 hours with 10 minute breaks every 4 hours. I can do this. I am starting to train now. I am so excited for this. I walked 36 miles at this last relay. I wonder how many I can do on the next one.

I urge all of my readers to find out more about the relay. I know all of you have someone in your life you has had cancer. It is an awesome event and very....words can't really describe it. Find out where one is in your area.