I relayed...

I spent my Saturday participating in the Danville Relay for Life.  Many of you know this, because you donated to my team, for that I thank you so very much.  "Why do I do the Danville one? " you might wonder.  Well my brother is the team captain of our team "The Danville Class of 2000" or TDC2K as we like to call it.  Again, it seems squirrelly - well my sister-in-law Anna and her friends had been doing the relay since high school (yes, they are a bit younger than me if you do the math) and they have continued the tradition by adding spouses and in-laws to the mix.  The idea is that you set up your booth Saturday morning, the event goes for 24 hours and you have one team member walking the track at all times. I believe the rules get a bit fuzzy at 3 am, but you didn't hear that from me.  

Steve and I

Steve and Anna

Through out the day they have different themed laps and ceremonies, cancer "victors" telling their story and music, lots of music.  Each year the relay has a theme - this year was the eighties.  So my team chose "Sweatin' for a Cure" and yes it comes complete with our own Richard Simmons.  So for the costume lap we all donned our best eighties apparel.  I will say we have a bit of a reputation to uphold, we have won  best costume two years in a row and I am happy to report that this year was our three-peat!  Seriously we looked hot AND our performance, led by my insane brother was hilarious - I seriously almost peed myself several times.  Let me just say that it involved lots of Richard's classic workout moves.

"Richard"

TDC2K

Sad as it is my brother didn't have to shop at goodwill for his outfit

Most of the day involves walking and eating and walking and eating - I feel a bit like a bloated pig - I be running right now, but honestly I'm still a bit pooped.  At the end of the day they do a luminary ceremony that included over 1000 luminaries in memory of or in honor of.  It is so moving and sad at the same time to see so many people affected by this awful disease.  It's a wonderful time to reflect, pray and remember - it is probably my favorite part of the whole day, bittersweet as it is. 

I will sum it up with this, there was a group called "Laps for Laura," we found out that Laura was a teacher in Danville and in her early thirties, she had two boys and delivered her baby girl in July.  She died in October from Cancer.  I takes your breath away doesn't it?  I think about my mom at 33 being diagnosed for the first time with me- 7 and my brother- 3.  I think about myself and my girlfriends and it scares me to my core that it could be me or anyone I am close to.  I pray that it isn't, that our fate is different, but it does push me to embrace my days, my family, my friends and what I love more and more.  You just don't know what tomorrow will bring. Thanks for letting me share!

Laura's son said it best on his luminary

Up next Lindy!