"It is great to be honored - but it is far better to be involved"
It is easy to try to protect our Survivors and pamper them, to keep them from having to do anything at our events because they are there to be honored! - That is great - but please - please please - - - Don't forget that we need them to feel useful or there is no point in them being there beyond the survivor lap and collecting their t-shirts and goodies! -
Keep them involved through Survivor opportunities - we have suggested and will be implementing this plan for next year a posting of needed help for the Relay -and we plan to let the survivors know that we need them and that they are welcome to become involved at any level they feel comfortable and interested. We don't demand anything - but will leave it open to them that we are in need and if they would like we can make use of their talents.
I know that many of our survivors may not yet be ready to do more than make it to the event to be included in the Celebration Ceremony (formerly the Survivor Ceremony)and that is wonderful for them to share themselves with us and let us celebrate them --- BUT there are those who want to give back and are able to become more involved - it is our duty to let them... to include them and to keep them Fighting Back along side the rest of the local Relay volunteers! After all... Relay is about a Community that takes up the fight against cancer - we can hardly discriminate against those who have fought this dreadful disease by not letting them become actively involved! - What a waste of talents and motivations if we do not include and involve them at any level they are willing.
I hope this reminds all of us that it feels good to give back and we should offer that opportunity to our Survivors as well.
Joined: 2006-08-17