Our grand total to fight cancer

We did it. For the first time in more than five years of doing Relay we reached our goal of $1,000. In fact, we raised $1,300. Most of the money was through book sales, $400 online and $500 at the garage/book sale. The rest, was from our friends and family who generously donated – thank you!

The event was in Tacoma and was from 6 p.m. last night through 6 p.m. tonight. We walked around the track with thousands of other people who also think that cancer sucks and who also hope for a cure someday. Every year it seems the event means more to me. This year, we dedicated our donations and our time on the track to my Grandma Rosalee who has been undergoing chemo and radiation since she discovered she had cancer this March.

Although Liam couldn’t comprehend just why we kept walking in circles and why we’ve been asking people for donations, it was really special for me to have him at the event. Last year I was seven months pregnant and felt my first contractions as I walked around the track!

Perhaps the most memorable moment with Liam was Friday night during the survivors walk. To kick off the event, hundreds of cancer survivors and caregivers walk around the track and everybody else stands along the sides clapping and cheering them on. Liam clapped for the survivors – it almost brought tears to my eyes and I can tell you it brought smiles to many of the survivors as they took the first lap around the track.

Liam sits on the sidelines and claps for the survivors and the caregivers as they circle the track.

As the sun went down last night we lit a luminaria for my Grandma Rosalee and my Grandpa Jim, who sadly passed away from cancer a few years ago. The luminarias shine brightly in the dark night and spell out the words “hope” and “cure”, they also line the track – thousands of them. They honor the survivors and also remember those who have passed. It’s a very powerful ceremony and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

Our team captain, Pat Flynn, is the “Mother of Relay.” She helped start it 24 years ago, right here in Tacoma. It all started with one man, Gordy Klatt, who wanted to help fight cancer and he raised money and ran around the University of Puget Sound track for 24 hours. It’s hard to imagine that what started with one man more than two decades ago has become a worldwide fundraiser, raising more than $3 billion for cancer research and awareness. It’s the largest health fundraiser in the world with 3.5 million people participating. Now if that doesn’t give you hope, I don’t know what will. I met Pat when I worked at the City of Tacoma. Fresh out of college she has been a mentor and dear friend to me over the years. It’s an honor to be on her team and I can tell we made her proud as our team totaled more than $22,000 this year!

Jeremy and I are exhausted – it’s been a whirlwind, but we are glad we reached our fundraising goal for the first time. Thank you if you donated and keep us in mind when we go a calling this time next year for donations – we really believe it makes a difference.

Cancer survivors and caregivers line up for the survivors lap.

The youngest survivors lead the pack on the first lap of the Relay event.

The kids finishing the survivors lap.

Liam enjoys some dinner at the team tent site.

Liam and Jeremy posed as professional football players as a fundraiser.

A close up as Liam the football player.

The luminarias spell out the word “cure” in the stands.

“Hope” is spelled out on the other set of stands. Luminarias line the track below. It’s all about having HOPE that a CURE will come soon.

Jeremy and Liam take time to look at the luminarias. Each one represents a loved one that has been impacted by cancer.

Luminarias for Grandma Rosalee and Grandpa Jim.

The glow of the luminarias lights up the Relay for Life sign.

Our team booth sits on the side of the track. This is where we gather when we are not on the track. Luminarias line the track in front of our tent. Those luminarias and survivors are why we relay.

We won’t finish until there is a cure. Expect to hear from us next year!

p.s. If you didn’t get a chance to donate and you’d like to, don’t worry. . . you still have time. You can donate online or send us a check in the mail.