Relay for Life

Wes and I have been involved with Relay for Life in Weaverville for the past 5 years. For those who don't know, Relay for Life is a 24 hour fundraising event- where groups of teams get together in one community, and each team must have a member walking on the track at all times for the duration of the event. We are all there for one cause- were doing what we can to help find a cure for cancer. Here's our summary of Relay for Life 2007:


Relay was a huge success this weekend! We had a large turn out, and as a team, we did great on so many levels! Every year, Wes' dad gets the whole construction crew to "set the stage" for Relay for Life. Our team is out there the day before the event, as the guys build the stage, and set up all the large tents. We had the family over for dinner afterwards, since we live 900 yards from the Elementary school where it would be held. The next morning, we got out there early to set up our own team site, where our theme this year was "Racing for a Cure." We had a fun "racing" theme, and brought out all the little toy 4 wheelers and big wheels we could find for the kids to ride on. It turned out to be a hit with ALL the kids at Relay, who could entertain themselves for hours by racing around the basketball courts with their friends! The event started at 10 am Saturday, as the Survivors took the first lap, wearing their "Relay" purple shirts and medals. The emotion of the event really begins at this point, and carries on throughout the day. My sister in law, Bridget, was able to have her family join us this year. It was so wonderful to have them on our team, especially to have her mom, Tina, step father, Steve, and step brother, Cody, walk with us- as Steve is currently battling brain cancer. He was set to begin another Chemo treatment on Relay weekend, but that didn't stop him. He took his Chemo pill friday night when he arrived in Weaverville, and for me, he put a face on what it means to battle this disease. He is a fighter, and watching him walk many legs of our Relay reminded us all of why we do this every year.
Around 7 pm, we began to light our luminarias. "Every candle has a name" is what echoes in your heart as you walk around the track reading the names of those who are fighting cancer, have won the fight, or have lost... and there are so many candles. These luminarias guide us as the moon comes up, and we prepared for a long, chilly night of walking for those brave ones who have fought the fight.

At around 11 pm, out comes Cecile. For those who have been at our Relay the past few years, Cecile is a very familiar, friendly, spirited voice who guides us through the late hours of Relay. She has the daunting task of keeping tired, FREEZING cold walkers, awake and enthusiastic all night long. It's very tempting to sneak off to your cozy little tent where the kids are all snuggled up in their piles of warm blankets, but she gives us motivation to keep on walking. The main inspiration is COMPETITION, and at Relay, this competition is called Midnight Madness! Every hour there is a team event, a "creative" competion to win- each team has a chance to win $50 for 1st place, $25 for 2nd, all towards your team fundraising efforts. This year our team did wonderfully! Many of us gathered every hour between taking turns walking and staying warm by the fire, to cheer- or compete for a win- for our team. I succumbed to the cold around 3 am, and huddled in my sleeping bag in the tent for a bit, got up around 4:30 to cheer, and went back to sleep for a solid 1 hour until I began walking again at 6 am. Wes' sister, Amy, his Mom, and Bridget were part of the "up late crew", as well, and all were part of our spirited group battling for wins during Midnight Maddness. Wes and Bridget's brother, Cody, were our two shining stars- as they never lay down for a rest, not even for a second. Wes was truley in his element- he took 1st at 12 am (wheelbarrow race around track/ find hidden objects, wheel them back to the finish), 4 am- he and Cody took 2nd in a Wheel barrow obstacle course, and at 6 am he took first in a eating competion... chocolate covered boiled eggs, whipped cream, and bagels... mmmm!

As the sun FINALLY came up, we thawed out and continued to circle the track until 10 am. We had are awards ceremony, and found our team raised over $9,000 and were in the Top 5 overall fundraisers overall. Little Trinity County raised over $85,000 as a community. I finished in the Top 5 as an overall individual fundraiser, and was honored as the Top fundraiser online! We are already looking ahead to next year, as I tested out a potential fundraising endeavor for Relay 2008 by making shirts to wear while we walk. I wore one this year that displayed the names of all of my donor's loved ones who have battled cancer. I also made a special one for Wes' mom, Linda, to wear that memorialized her dad. My unforgettable Relay moment was a special talk with Linda's mom, Grandma Joy, as she came out with more family members to walk in memory of Grandpa Lawrence. She spoke with tears in her eyes, proud to see the shirt dedicated to his memory. I just let her know I treasure the wonderful memories I have of Grandpa. I told her he is my main reason for being so dedicated to Relay, year after year. I get so frustrated knowing that had their been a cure for cancer 4 years ago, Grandpa would've lived to meet Kylee, and his namesake, Owen Lawrence.


Grandma Joy and Owen

After all the hours of set up, clean up, and walking... we were a very tired family! Wes was named my hero of the weekend...after dominating the Maddness events, being one of the few to stay up all 24, choosing to RUN many of his walking laps, volunteered to be Chairperson of Logistics for Relay 2008, he then drove to Redding with his dad after Relay on Sunday to return all the equipment to the Relay supplier... NOT TO MENTION he wanted to take Owen so Mommy and Kylee could get some rest. I love my hubby.

Here are a few more pictures from this unforgettable weekend
Adam and Bridget try to instill nap time via wagon at Relay Brynn, Kylee and Taylor hang out in the tent

Wes and Owen walk at Luminaria ceremonyMidnight Maddness begins Adam, Cody and Wes get fired up for some crazy wheelbarrow racing!