Relay For Life

I understand if you don't want to read this post because I didn't take any pictures at Relay for Life. However, it was a HUGE success and I want to thank everyone that supported me or better yet put up with me this last year in preparing for it. I wasn't very successful in finding sponsors this year which is what my responsibility was. Last year was a lot better in that regard. But even without as many sponsors as last year we were still able to raise $16,000 to help the American Cancer Society find a cure for cancer and for that I am grateful. Cancer affects everyone in some way. When I was in high school all the students gathered in the gym for an assembly to pump us up for Relay For Life which our school was hosting. They had all 2400 students stand and as they asked three questions if they applied to us we were asked to sit down. 1. If you know anyone who has died from cancer take a seat. 2. If you or a family member has or had cancer take a seat. 3. If you know someone (friend, co-worker, ward member, etc.) who has or had cancer take a seat. I honestly don't remember a single person still standing. That's when it hit me that I wanted to support this great event for as long as I can because everyone will benefit from finding a cure.

Being on the committee to help put this whole event together is a LOT of work. I volunteered a great deal of my time to find sponsors and while I was working full time and going to school it was pretty stressful. Once I cut back my hours at work it wasn't as bad, but still time consuming. I've decided it's really hard to ask people for money and even harder to be turned down. Next year I'd rather count the money than ask for it! Even though it was a lot of work and at times pretty stressful and discouraging, every second of it was worth it to see it all come together in the end. I'm excited for next year's event and can't wait to try out a new Chair position. I want to do the Accounting Chair, but I'm also leaning towards another Chair that is slipping my memory, but it's basically pumping up the teams and getting them excited for Relay and for fundraising.

The event went from 6pm to 7am, but one of the disadvantages of being on the committee is staying after to clean up. I didn't sleep the whole night because I was too busy with our raffle, penny war, and t-shirt sale that there wasn't time to even think about sleeping so by the time I left at 8:30am I was pretty exhausted. Even if I didn't have things to keep me busy I don't think I would have slept though. All in all I'm glad everything turned out okay and we didn't have any mishaps. One girl got hit in the eye with a volleyball, but other than that everything was good.

Cancer never sleeps and we won't stop until we find a cure.

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.