Susan's cousin Anna is an organizer for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. (In fact, she's on the executive team for the St. Olaf Cancer Connection, sponsoring events throughout the year to raise money for cancer research, education, and services.)
In the past Susan and I walked in Relay for Life, an event for which participants solicit donations to the American Cancer Society and during which, in return, they light a luminary in honor of the cancer survivor or victim of the donor's choice. The luminaries (paper bags with lit candles in them) line the sidewalks or track of whatever venue is the site of the event, and the participants run or walk during the relay. As dusk settles in, the glowing luminaries provide a gentle reminder of the extent of cancer's reach in our lives; the line of luminaries piercing the darkness usually extends as far as the eye can see. It's an opportunity to celebrate those who battled or triumphed over cancer; to donate money to an excellent cause; and to gather with like-minded individuals for an evening of exercise, fundraising, and entertainment (relay sponsors often arrange for music, public addresses, etc.).
Anna is asking for donations of any amount to help their organization reach its goal of $60,000 (last year they raised $58,000). If you are willing to help, please click here to reach Anna's donation page. Every $10 donation offers the opportunity to dedicate a luminary to someone you know who had or has cancer. Feel free to copy and paste the Web site address of Anna's donations page into an e-mail to others who you think would be willing to donate to this cause.
The ultimate goal is a cure for cancer. If you or anyone you know has been touched by cancer, you know how urgent it is to achieve this goal.
It is so sad when we start listing all of the relatives whose names belong on those luminaries....both of our mothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles...it is definitely a disease that has touched our lives on many levels.
ReplyDeleteThe picture on Anna's web page, shows her holding a little boy who has a brother or sister with cancer. Anna volunteered last year and will again this summer at The Heart Connection's camp in Iowa. The first week is for kids with cancer and the second is for their siblings.
ReplyDeletePat
As I know you have a lot of Grand Forks readers, I thought I would mention that THE GRAND FORKS RELAY FOR LIFE EVENT IS JUNE 1-2. For more information, visit my blog at http://rdtupdate.blogspot.com/2007/04/relay-for-life.html
ReplyDeleteor contact tabethatronnes@yahoo.com or stop by Old Navy in Grand Forks and talk to Tabetha.