| The survivors take their victory lap to begin the relay. |
The annual Relay for Life was held on July 9-10 at the Emery High Track. Event organizer, Cathy Sitterud, and cochair, Debbie Wilson said they more than exceeded their goal of $20,000 for research for a cure for cancer. Teams raised more than $24,000 at the event. Survivors were honored at a ceremony and they took to the track for their survivor’s’ lap to begin the relay. RP’s Diner donated a spaghetti dinner for the participants. The luminary ceremony was held at dusk and Dana Olsen read a poem about honoring those lost to cancer.
Relay Reflections
I am tired. I smell. My feet hurt. My eyes feel like grit, and my head is pounding from lack of sleep…but I am grateful. I have all of my body parts with which I was born. I have all of my hair. I didn’t lose my breakfast in a bucket. I can hold my children.
My house is a wreck. My car is full of junk. My children are exhausted, hungry and dirty…but I am grateful. I can clean my house and my car. I can bathe my children and feed them supper. I can read them a book and rock them to sleep while filling myself up with their clean little smells and my arms with warmth.
I will collapse in my bed tonight and pray for all the people we raised money for through Relay for Life. And, I will cry for all the people we were too late to help. I will give thanks for every minute of my life and for all the blessings in it.
I never ask myself why I wear myself out raising money for cancer because I know why. It’s not for mom, who is a cancer survivor, or for friends who have died from cancer, or even my husband and children. I do it because…I can.
Kay Horton, Carroll County, Ga.