One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. ONE IN THREE! That is a shocking statistic. Think about the people you know whether your family, friend, or a friend of a friend. You could be that one. I can list at least half a dozen people that I know that are either cancer survivors or that lost their battle with cancer.
If you have been reading my blog for a while you know I go on about my worries about heart disease, diabetes, and obesity but I never mention my concern with cancer. As I get older and realize the importance of each day we have, it becomes more prevalent in my life. My grandmother (mom’s mom) had ovarian cancer and died from it when I was very young. Since my first trip to the gyno, my mom has embedded in my head to make sure I tell the dr. about grandma. I do, every doctor, every visit.
Back to Relay…I attended a RFL event last Friday. A group of us from work gathered together to celebrate the lives of the cancer survivors we work with, their families, and the people we have lost to cancer over the years. There is nothing I would have rather done with my Friday night, than spend it with those wonderful women. Even though RFL has its sad moments, we were definitely the most “spirited” group on the track. We would hoot and holler at our walkers or anyone we really found interesting enough to holler at! The candle lighting ceremony was by far the most amazing moment of the evening. Watching the track light up with all the luminarias, each representing a lost loved one or a survivor, while bagpipers walked the track playing. This ceremony really had me at a loss for words with the recent death of my grandmother (dad’s mom) and remembering the funeral of my grandfather (dad’s dad) where we also had bagpipes. I did not lose either of them to cancer but it was still a loss that is felt each holiday and milestone in life. We long for those we have lost either to cancer, stroke, heart disease, or any other ailment.
My point here…find something to support whether it be a cure for cancer, aids or Parkinson’s, just help to support something. You could be assisting in finding a cure to save your life, your child’s or your child’s child.
