In a time when all seemed lost and the emotional pain was unbearable. I remind myself of what I learned many years ago. "If you grab onto a small piece of HOPE, no matter how small and build in it rather than all the pain you have been through. You will make it". This had saved my life then. And again when I was told I had cancer. The man who shared this with me became my best freind and he passed away with lung cancer.

Today as a relayer and I begin a new year. I remember this and that first coin we get is that small piece of hope and our team builds on it.

This year I have just stepped in as event chair, two months to Relay and I have a strong grip on that piece of HOPE, Our teams and they are great.

H.O.P.E.

 Thank all you Relayers. ((((HUGS))))) to all you Survivors. +++++++Super Thanks+++++++++ to all you Caregivers.  

Hello fellow Relayers.

I just wanted to share my appreciation for everything all of you are doing to help get rid of cancer. May everyone accomplish what you set out to do and have an outstanding Relay.

I share this in Honor of my best freind Michael whom I held his had as cancer took his life, I was 11 y/o. In honor of my Grandfather who showed me how to face the world and appreciate it and when he lost his battle with cancer, this world lost a great man. Today I am able to walk with my sister-in-law in the survivor lap each year. For the doctors who told my wife she had lung cancer and took care of it, she is by myside today. For my grandson whom I hope will never have to face these life tragities.

May God grace be with all of you.

Sincerely,

A life a new 

Ric Navarro Sr.

HI RELAYERS, I log on to read the blog entries and to me they are a great inspiration. I have volunteered to chair the Caregiver committee and if anyone has also done so or is interested in saluting our caregivers. I hope to hear from you. I am a survivor and I am looking forward to recognizing our caregivers. You may also contact me at alifeanew@hotmail.com. I am looking for ideas and connecting with others who feel the graditude for our unsong heros.

I am a survivor and my story is not about me or my cancer, but about Caregivers. I RELAY as a salute to those who have given their unselfish DEDICATION and unconditional LOVE. My story is simple, consisting of several periods in my life, if it were not for Caregivers; I would not be here today to enjoy life. To keep my story short: I have survived childhood abuse, as a child nearly died from blood poisoning after my appendix ruptured and was not taken to the hospital until I was so stiff I could not move and I had met my first care angel. Homeless as a late teen met my second care angel. 26 years ago met my 3rd care angel when fighting alcoholism and suicide. I met my 4th care angel after nearly loosing my life after being shot during a drive by shooting. I met my 5th care angel while suffering from chronic pneumonia. My 6th when I was told I had cancer and it had been there for years. I was told to prepare myself and my family for my day of surgery as if I was not going to survive it. MY first grandson was born just a month before and he became my fight against cancer and he has walked with me in 5 Relays since 2003. To me caregivers are not just those who take you to treatments but help you with your fight. God bless CAREGIVERS all over the world. Ric Navarro Sr.

I am a survivor and my story is not about me or my cancer, but about Caregivers. I RELAY as a salute to those who have given their unselfish DEDICATION and unconditional LOVE. My story is simple, consisting of several periods in my life, if it were not for Caregivers; I would not be here today to enjoy life. To keep my story short: I have survived childhood abuse, as a child nearly died from blood poisoning after my appendix ruptured and was not taken to the hospital until I was so stiff I could not move and I had met my first care angel. Homeless as a late teen met my second care angel. 26 years ago met my 3rd care angel when fighting alcoholism and suicide. I met my 4th care angel after nearly loosing my life after being shot during a drive by shooting. I met my 5th care angel while suffering from chronic pneumonia. My 6th when I was told I had cancer and it had been there for years. I was told to prepare myself and my family for my day of surgery as if I was not going to survive it. MY first grandson was born just a month before and he became my fight against cancer and he has walked with me in 5 Relays since 2003. To me caregivers are not just those who take you to treatments but help you with your fight. God bless CAREGIVERS all over the world. Ric Navarro Sr.

I am a survivor and my story is not about me or my cancer, but about Caregivers. I RELAY as a salute to those who have given their unselfish DEDICATION and unconditional LOVE. My story is simple, consisting of several periods in my life, if it were not for Caregivers, I would not be here today to enjoy life. To keep my story short. I have survived childhood abuse, as a child nearly died from blood poisoning after my appendix ruptured and was not taken to the hospital until I was so stiff I could not move, I had met my first care angel. Homeless as a late teen, met my second care angel. 26 years ago met my 3rd care angel when fighting alcoholism and suicide. My 4th after nearly loosing my life after being shot during a drive by shooting. My 5th while suffering from chronic pneumonia. My 6th when I was told I had cancer and it had been there for years. I was told to prepare myself and my family for my day of surgery as if I was not going to survive it. MY first grandson was born just a month before and he became my fight against cancer and he has walked with me every year since 2002. A real caregiver. To me caregivers are not just those who take you to treatments but help you with your fight. May God bless CAREGIVERS all over the world. I will RELAY for the rest of my life even if the cure is found. Ric Navarro Sr.

The Relay For life of Perry County in Illinois has added a Caregiver Chair. As a survivor I was honored when they asked me to chair this committee. I am looking foward to help salute those who have given so much of themselves. During my fight with cancer, our family had not known of ACS Relay For Life. I was invited to a Relay several months after my surgery. To this day can not find the words to express the feels that I expierenced as I walked the survivor lap and could only cry when my wife and 3 month old grandson walk the next lap with me. During my career as a Drug and Alcohol counselor in Milwaukee, I was aware of many organizations that wer ethere to help people, including ACS. I enetered the Helping (health care) field after loosing my Grandfather to cancer and nearly loosing my life to physical effects of alcoholism. As a child I almost died from blood poisioning after suffering a reputured appendix. There were several other times of my life if it were not for the Caregivers I am not real sure if I would have survived. I am a Survivor because of CAREGIVERS. I thank my wife Vickie for her unselfish giving and exausting efforts to help me.

I was introduced to Relay For Life just months after my cancer surgery in 2003 and later became involved. It has been one of the most wonderful expierences in my life. During my radiation and chemo-therapy, My wife exausted herself taking care of me. My new born grandson was my will to fight. I have survived other life threating deseases and if it were not for those who put themselves in arms way to help, I would not be here today. I Relay for the caregivers. I am intested in doing more at our Relay to recognize our Caregivers, so if any one has ideas, please share.

My e-mail address is alifeanew@hotmail.com