Relay for Life 2013...Welcome to CandyLand

Every summer there are things that are a staple in my life.  One of those is participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.  Many people know about this, and many people don't.  For those who don't, here is a summary.  This is a 24 hour team event.  You develop your team, you raise money, and then comes the event.  At ours, we are at a city park, teams lined along the track.  You decorate according to the theme for that year, and then you walk.  As a team, you keep someone on the track for all 24 hours.  The idea is that cancer never sleeps, so for one day, neither will we.  Lots of other events happen during this 24 hours, including a silent auction, special laps, a survivor ceremony, and a luminaria ceremony. 

The luminaria ceremony is the most special time for me, every year.  It is when we light luminaries with the names of those who have won the battle against cancer, and those whom we have lost in that battle.  It is a time of quiet, of silence, of music, of tears, of memories.  Every year it is a new experience, and one that I never forget.

While many tears are shed during that hour, the event also includes laughs and excitement.  Below are pictures from this years event.  It was a wonderful time, and one that I look forward to again next year.

 Our team site.  The event theme was games, so we chose CandyLand

 Check out the balloon lollipops, we made them!!!

 Inside our canopy

 Ms Relay is a staple competition at our event

 Alec was our Princess Lollipop

Liz, Lainie, & I had amazing glasses for the light up lap

During the luminaria ceremony, the guitarist performed his version of a song.  A song which spoke to the pain of losing someone you love.  A song about losing someone too early.  So today, as I remember Relay, my song of the day is Wesley, Why? by Matt Wertz.