The event is this Friday, April 27-28. I am starting to stress a little, but I think once things start getting set up and the event gets under way, I think everything will be fabulous! If you are interested in donating, our website is listed here Relay for Life of East Orange
I will be back this weekend with a recap of how everything went!!!! :)
Below is the reason our event is 18 hours:
Relay For Life is an 18
hour journey providing the light of day and dark of night to parallel the
physical effects, emotions and mental state of a cancer patient while
undergoing treatment.Relay For Life begins during the day, when the sun is shining
bright and the excitement and energy is flowing through the community. The
setting sun symbolizes the time when a patient is diagnosed with cancer. The
day is getting darker and this represents the cancer patient’s state of mind as
he or she feels that life is on an unknown journey. As the evening goes on it
gets cooler and darker, just as the emotions of the cancer patient do.
Around 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Relay participants have been walking
for hours and may begin to feel tired and the desire to take a break or go
home. This represents the time when a cancer patient starts treatment. It is at
this time that many patients become exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on,
possibly wanting to give up. Just as the cancer patient cannot give up on his
or her treatment, Relay participants push through this phase, showing unity
with cancer patients around the world.
By 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Relayers are truly exhausted, but the
end is in sight and they begin to believe they will make it to the morning
celebration. This symbolizes the coming of the end of treatment for the cancer
patient who is tired, but who has hope and motivation to push through until the
end of treatment.
The sun rising represents the end of treatment for the cancer
patient. They see the light at the end of the tunnel and know that life will go
on. The morning light brings on a new day full of life and excitement for new
beginnings for the cancer patient. As a participant, you will feel the
brightness of the morning and know that the end of the RELAY is close at hand.
You will feel triumphant in the knowledge that you, one person, has made an
impact in the fight against cancer.
When you leave the RELAY, think of the
cancer patient leaving his or her last treatment. Just as you are exhausted and
weak, so is that person after treatment. But a new day has arrived and we are
continuing to take up the fight against cancer. REMEMBER: There is no finish
line until we find a cure.
I love that explanation behind Relay.. It's never hit as close to home as it is right now! Someone very close to me is fighting the cancer battle right now. Although I would love to attend our local Relay event (same date as yours), I can't because I am hosting a fundaiser of my own this weekend for the family in need.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing a great thing by heading up that committee! I'm sure it's an enormous time commitment, and can be incredibly stressful at times, but you are becoming a part of something bigger than yourself and YOU ARE making a difference in the lives of others by volunteering your time and efforts!
Thanks for joining in the battle!
I am sorry to hear that someone close to you is fighting the battle! I will keep them in my thoughts as we go through the evening on Friday! Cancer has affected my family in more ways than I had imagined before getting involved; grandparents on both sides, great-grandparents, Doug's biological dad, my mom (skin cancer) so I am doing it for many people including a close friend who lost her dad this year.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your fundraiser this weekend! What is it that you are doing?
I was wondering why they did the relay overnight, I'm glad you posted on this. It sounds like it's going to be quite the turn out...great job! :)
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