"The Old Gray Mare Ain't What She Use To Be"

This weekend was the Relay For Life Event. The Relay for Life is sponsored by the American Cancer Society to raise funds for research. Friends from my school have put together a team and participated for the past four years. Each of us on the team are there for very personal reason for participating. Most of us have either lost someone important to us because of cancer or we have someone close who has fought cancer and beat it or is going through treatment for this hideous disease right now.

For me, it was my dad who fought and conquered prostate cancer but died from cancer of his throat and for my mom, who died from breast cancer. I also walk for Tommy's mom who died from a rare form of leukemia. I also participate because of a dear friend who conquered breast cancer and for another who lost her child to cancer.

We have several fundraisers prior to the event to raise money for our team donation. This year we sold popcorn and popsicles at recess at school and held a bake sale during a school band concert. Along with that we each raise money personally with donations from our friends and family.

If you have never participated in a Relay I really encourage you to get a team together and get involved. Your team pitches a tent and then you get walking. Our event is held at the high school football field and we try to have someone on the track for the entire 24 hours. Some teams have team members sign up for certain time slots but most of our team spends the entire 24 hours at the relay. There are bands, food, booths and friendly people everywhere who all have the same goal.... to help find a cure for cancer ... all cancers. One of my favorite things is to see the many people on the track wearing purple survivor shirts.

There was one purple shirted little lady I noticed early in the day on Saturday. She was supported by another, younger woman (her daughter or her sister or maybe she was a friend). But she was making her way around the track. I lapped her several times during the day but each time I saw her she made me smile. She was doing her thing and she was determined to do it. She was inspiring. I have no clue who she was but she was my hero on Saturday.

The first few years I was able to spend the 24 hours out there with the team, spending the night sleeping on the artificial turf when I wasn't walking. I was able to do about 15 miles in the 24 hours. My favorite time to walk was from about midnight to 7am. There is hardly anyone on the track and they show movies on a huge screen. It's fun to see what's happening on the movie as you walk by each lap. I also love sunrises and there is always beautiful ones this time of year.

Well, you know, this little old, grey haired grandma just isn't in that great of shape anymore. My team mates (many who are marathon runners) had set the goal of walking 26 miles. I was just hoping to get 10. Tommy had a meeting he needed to attend on Saturday evening so I went home to hold down the fort until he could get home and babysit.

Sadly, after putting in eight miles, when I got home and sat down, I couldn't get up and get moving again. My legs ached so bad and I was soooooo tired. I couldn't even keep my eyes open. How pitiful is that?

Lucky for me, Carl was willing to go and take my place. He went down to the track and put in the miles for me. I really appreciated it.

So to my teammates... I'm sorry I couldn't stick it out the 24 hours. You girls rock! To my friends and family who donated to this cause... Thank you. You are awesome! And to anyone who has been touched by the insidiousness that is cancer...have faith. One day we WILL find a cure.