Relay for Life 2013

Friends and Family,

For many years, I have participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.  I have done the walk around the football field at my high school in honor of my aunt who lost her battle with leukemia when I was young.  I did the walk in a college gym at NYC as a recent college alum with my Georgetown roommates.  In 2009, I walked around the lake at the University of Richmond the week my uncle passed away from complications from cancer.  I have walked in honor of my grandfather.  Last year, I added two more luminaries to my list and walked in honor of my Uncle Paul and my mother.  Over the years, I have also walked for relatives of friends, co-workers of Greg, and those I have never met.  While there are moments that the cancer in my family and all around us can be overwhelming, at Relay, I feel some peace and hope.  I know that many of you have been impacted by cancer and hope that Relay can do the same for you.

This year, I am the team captain for "Walking on Sunshine" for the University of Richmond's Relay for Life on Friday, March 29.  The Relay will run from 6p.m. to 6a.m. in the Weinstein Center.  While I do realize that this is a long event (and 3 a.m. on a college campus can be intimidating), I hope that you will join my team as a walker, a cheerleader, or a funder and raise money for the American Cancer Society. Remember, as long as we have one person walking on the track throughout the night, then we’re on the right track!
Just today, I was at a lunch with a staff member from the American Cancer Society.  While she was talking about where all the money goes, I realized how my family has directly benefited from the programs and research that the American Cancer Society funds: From Look Good, Feel Better, a workshop that Mom and I attended last spring, after chemo, to the Q&A section on their website which I visited regularly to the catalog that Mom used to order comforting "cancer accessories."  The funds raised by Relay really do impact families just like mine.

If you are willing to continue on this journey with me, you can sign up by going to www.relayforlife.org/uofrichmond and click on “Sign up.” Then “Join an Existing Team” and scroll down to our team name: ­­­­­Walking on Sunshine!   Or, you can click on my Relay page directly and donate or register from there. 

From there, you have to answer a few questions, use a credit card to pay $10 to sign up and receive a shirt (or you can pay me in cash the next time you see me and I will pass that on to the Relay For Life committee), and then (if you are willing) send out emails to family and friends asking for donations.

I'll bring the big sunglasses (the shine of hope can sometimes be blinding) and hope to see you on the track.

Adrienne