first, i am new to this forum (and am typing with a broken arm so forgive the bad spelling and lack of caps).

i did my very first relay for life last night in fresno, at the fresno state campus. it was an amazing experience and i am ready to do it again.

 

i am a cervical cancer survivor. i was diagnosed on my anniversary last year (happy anniversary honey, i have cervical cancer)...i was 35 and had 6 year old twins, a husband, and was in generally good health. so how can this happen to ME? i learned a lot last year, not just about cancer, but about myself. in june it will be one year without cancer. my family went through hell while i tried my best to remain strong and plucky, and give "good face" to any who asked how i was doing (i discovered most people really didn't want to know as they were uncomfortable with it).after chemo, radiation, brachytherapy, and more time in the stirrups than any woman should suffer, i got the news of success. i have been loudly and proudly spreading the word since...using myself as a living, breathing example of why people need to support the acs.

 

my kids are in kindergarten this year. the school sent home a flier asking for walkers for the team for the relay for life. i had a week to prepare. i contacted my friends at an online artist website and got 4 sponsors, i also hit up friends and family in town. all in all, i not only got sponsoirship, but by using the website, i spread the word worldwide (the artist community i belong to is internationally known). there are teens in europe wanting to donate because of my story...and who are more aware of cervical cancer, and cancer in general. one sponsor donated for his dad who lost the battle, another donated for her sister who died from cancer, and her daughter who was surviving it. the stories were coming in, and awareness was being raised...all before i did the walk-a-thon.

 

at the walk-a-thon, i met so many survivors, it felt fantastic...but we also lit many luminaries in memory of those who lost the battle. as i walked in my purple survivor tee, people cheered me...few things in life made me feel so proud, my kids, my husband who has always stood by me...but that cheering...i felt like a goddess...yes i survived dammit, i was stronger than i ever believed myself to be, and i was walking with people who understood...whether they were survivors also or caregivers. it was very surreal and empowering, and i am very proud that i had accomplished something great. i had survived cancer, i had managed to get a few sponsors, and i helped to spread the word. now imagine if one person can do that how great it is when a lot of people are doing that, not just locally, but globally...and that is why i did the relay for life, and why i will continue to do it.