Dear Editor:
It has become overwhelmingly evident that every person in my
life is currently being effected by cancer in some way, shape or
form.
Dear Editor:
It has become overwhelmingly evident that every person in my life is currently being effected by cancer in some way, shape or form. Either they themselves are dealing with it or are personally involved with someone battling some form of this disease. There are so many courageous survivors and still so many more who have lost the good fight. Gilroy will be sponsoring the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on June 19 and 20 this year. It is an event that spans a 24-hour period of around the clock activities. Teams are currently forming and people are looking for partners to join them in this event.
Last year was the first time I had ever heard of such a thing. I was all fired up and needed an outlet to express the overwhelming feeling of loss of my father due to esophageal cancer. This seemed like the perfect place. What I gathered from the information from the Cancer Society you had to have a team of as many walkers as you can muster together and for a 24-hour period you had to have a member of your team on the relay track. The relay raises money for the many different services and research the ACS provides.
I talked to as many people as I could and thought I had built a pretty big team. But at the last minute it began to fall apart. I almost didn’t show up. But the fire inside me didn’t completely die and I decided to check it out. Looking back the idea of committing to a 24-hour period when so many live on borrowed time was daunting to most. If people will just head out to the relay to see for themselves all this doubt would quickly leave and they would want to participate again and again. When I first arrived I was nervous and wondered if people would think I didn’t belong. After, all I knew that my team had dwindled down to three of us and we probably wouldn’t be able to walk all 24 hours. My fears were short lived and I soon was caught up in the energy of opening ceremonies.
Throughout the day I participated in the many different activities that surrounded the track. I was amazed at the family friendly atmosphere. People from all walks of life and in all different stages of life were present. People celebrated together both their struggles and their victories. Don’t get me wrong … this is not a somber event. Here both life and the lives of others are embraced in joy and hope. It is my hope that some of your readers will take a chance and come by to see what it is all about and join in. There is strength in numbers and we need all the strength we can get. I walked away with renewed hope and bet they would, too. In the evening the track will be lit up by candle light in both memory and for survivors. It is a sight not to be missed.
Cathie Leonard, Santa Nella
Submitted Thursday, May 27 to ed****@ga****.com
