It has been just under a month since I completed my first Relay for Life.  It is now time to begin preparing for the next relay this coming September.  Tomorrow I will stop by the ACS office and pick up my team packet and begin looking for corporate sponsors.  Many members from the team I put together for the Merced Relay will be joining me in the Atwater Relay and together we will begin recruiting new members.  My goal is to have at least 36 members on two teams.  A fundraising goal is still to be determined by my team members.  After a few weeks rest, it is time to start all over again.

Everyone who participates in the Relay for Life does so for their own personal reasons.  For most they have a family member or friend who has survived cancer, is fighting cancer, or lost the battle to cancer.  Some have had cancer and beat it.  Participants' reasons are very personal.  The question is "why do I relay?" 

I remember reading somewhere 2 out of every 3 people will have their lives touched at some point by cancer.  I have known many people who have fought the battle against cancer.  Part of me relayed for them.

The true driving force behind why I relay is simple.  I find peace and happiness in helping others.  It's the feeling I get when helping people in need.  Like love, the feeling is too hard to describe.  Donating to charities simply does not do it for me.  Donating is not much different than paying to have my car washed.  There are no warm and fuzzy feeling.  Jumping into the trenches and getting dirty is where the euphoria comes from.  Knowing the hours put in before and during the relay will benefit countless people.  That is why I relay!

When I found out the date of the Merced Relay for Life it was a short 5 weeks away.  I immediately began making phone calls and giving what probably sounded like a sales pitch to my family and friends.  I wanted to make sure I would be able to convince enough people to join my team before paying the registration fee and committing to the event.

When I called one friend I felt a bit of resistance from him.  He made the mistake of telling his wife and she contacted me directly a few days later.  I had them both!  She thought it sounded like a great idea and was enthusiastic from the beginning.  My friend however was the opposite, but because I hooked her I had him.  They both really enjoyed the event and will be part of my future teams.

As I was putting together my team I had no intention of asking my mother to join.  I did ask her to help me fundraise.  She agreed and then asked if she could participate.  I told her no because I needed her to help me fundraise.  The next day I realized how selfish I was being and called her to let her know she could walk and be a member of the team.  Within 24 hours of her joining the team she raised over $500.  She went on to raise the most money for the team and was one my greatest assets the day of the event.

For years I have wanted to get involved with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, but usually found out about a local event only days before and never got involved.  Five weeks ago this all changed when I was informed by Dorene Murphy of the American Cancer Society the date of the Merced Relay.  Within days I began putting together a team. 

I signed our team up online and had only a short time to decide on a name.  I came up with "Friends & Family."  My vision was to put together a team of friends and family making the event much like a Sunday afternoon barbarque, hence the name.  I began asking people to join and quickly had a team of about 12 members.  This would be the base of our team.  They had friends and family come out during the day to join us, putting our team membership up to about 24. 

Having never participated in a Relay for Life event before, I was unaware of how much was required of a team captain.  The morning of the event seemed a bit overwhelming, but I made it through.  My team really came through and I want to thank each and every member.  I would also like to thank Dorene Murphy, Stephanie Struble, and Kristi Bressler all of whom helped me a great deal before and during the event.