Every year I find more reasons to be put of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

In the past, the only cancer to touch my life was through family. However, this past year, it came into my life through my friends. I lost a dear friend to leukemia, watched a coworker battle colon cancer, and realized that a new friend is a bone cancer survivor.

Relay for Life is truly a grueling event. I stayed the entire 18+ hours last year. It was important to me to stay this time. I felt that if I could survive the Relay, it would be the least I could do to honor those battling cancer. I could have left and went home anytime. It was cold. I was exhausted...and I mean exhausted. I kept repeating to myself, "cancer patients can't just quit. They have to survive or die". This mantra helped me to stay focused and committed.