Choose to help in fight against cancer
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The dates for the 2012 Lake County Relay For Life are Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14. It is time for you to choose whether or not you will organize a team, become a captain, help raise thousands of dollars by participating and inspiring others to join in. Being as it is in Ronan, will the hassle of the 9 miles get in your way of getting involved? Will it be too much of a chore to find team members who will be willing to come up with fundraisers? Will the rain follow us to July, so that once again we will have a soggy Relay? There are some decisions to be made.
I ran across a blog written by Carley Grace, a young lady in the middle of her fight against cancer and she writes:
“… and from this, I realized something important. I said to myself, ‘You have a decision to make.’ Each decision makes all the difference and it trickles down, from one to the next, and so on and so on.
You have two choices. You can pretend like you don’t have cancer, or you can admit it.
You have two choices. You can go through the motions or understand what’s really going on.
You have two choices. You can run from it or stand your ground, come rain or shine.
You have two choices. You can stay in bed, or live your life.
You have two choices. You can live with the “label”, or break the mold.
You have two choices. You can just stand there, or you can fight.
You have two choices. You can be a wimp, or you can give it everything you’ve got.
You have two choices. You can complain about what you’re doing, or just do it
You have two choices. You can accept what’s going on, or waste the time you have left.
You have two choices. You can enjoy the little things, or be sad waiting for something big.
You have two choices. You can be happy, or you can let cancer invade your entire life.
You have two choices. You can understand the side effects or ignore them/feel even worse.
You have two choices. You can be you or you can ‘be cancer.’
And when it comes down to it, you have one choice. You have cancer.
That doesn’t mean you don’t have options.”
Wow, after reading that, 9 miles doesn’t seem like such an effort and another soggy Relay shouldn’t be all that uncomfortable. I am asking you to put a team together. I have room on my team; I am asking you to join my team. I am asking you to sponsor Lake County Relay for Life. I am asking survivors and caregivers to come to the survivor reception, rain or shine. I am asking you to come to the opening ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday to support our cancer survivors as they make the first lap. I am asking you to come to the luminaria ceremony to witness the glow of illuminated bags, some lit celebrating the survivorship of those who have battled cancer and have lived to tell their stories; others lit commemorating the lives of those who have been lost to this disease. All represent someone special who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to fight back in their honor. I am asking you to make this truly a Lake County event and participate in the fight against cancer. If you’ve thought about getting involved with the Lake County Relay for Life, it just stays a thought until you do something about it. See you there.
(Editor’s note: Joyce Kackmann is the 2012 Lake County Relay For Life event chair.)
