Summit was outstanding and I'm so pumped up for our event that I'm a little frustrated that it isn't until May!  I had to post because the S. TX. yell was started by Don from Floresville--he walked the stage to represent our region.  I can't wait for our Relay...so I'm going to visit Refugio's event on Nov. 10th!

-Anne

Hey there peeps!!
     It's MightyMiracleMike aka M3!!! From South Texas!!!! Go Relay!!!  Sorry, I had to do that. Just wanted to say it was nice to meet some of you at the High Plains Summit. I loved it so much and I can't wait for Dec 9th! I don't know what it is to have or loose some one to cancer and when they asked "Why do you relay?" It just hit me.... I looked around and saw so much spirit in each and one of  you. The stories about people and kids fighting cancer cut me deep inside. I've never heard such powerfull stories and meet with sooo many people that have 1 thing in common......to find a cure. My hat goes off to everyone of you. I first joined our Upper Relay For Life in McAllen Texas since I thought entertainmant could use a hand. Now I am a 4 year helper for entertainment and I love it. I wish there was more I could do and as long as I can I will do my best to help ACS in every way that I can.

 MightyMiracleMike (Mike Rangel), Entertainment Commitee Upper Relay For Life McAllen Texas (South Texaaassss!)

Superheroes . . . . . . That was the theme of the Relay For Life Leadership Summit.  It was about how an average person can become a superhero because of one small thing or event in their life.  How Spiderman became super due to a spider bite.  Or how Superman from the death of his parents begins using his powers.  Average people making a difference because in some way their lives were dramatically affected by a specific change.  That’s who we are. . . . . Relayers.  We are the superheroes of the Relay For Life.  We participate in this event because in some way cancer has affected our lives.  We are the superheroes who are out fighting for a cure, who possess the power to save lives and yet, we’re just average people.

WOW!  . . . . . It’s the only word that keeps coming to mind when I think about this past weekend.  I don’t know how to even begin telling what Austin and I experienced.  It was emotionally draining and exhausting, even more so than a Relay For Life event itself, if you can believe that.  The people behind the scenes of the summit even said that this was one of the most mentally exhausting summits they have ever done.   

We were the first members of the new High Plains Division, which consisted of Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Hawaii, and Guam.  There were about 1,200 people or so that attended the summit, which is for Event Chairs and Event Co-Chairs.

Our breakout sessions included Team Development, Fundraising Development, Leadership 1 Development and Leadership 2 Development, along with going through a mini-mock Relay.  (Which my husband, Austin and I helped put together!)  We learned so many, many things - like how to recruit teams and committee members, how to really benefit from fundraising, and how to be an outstanding Relay For Life Leader. 

In our fundraising session, our presenter, Jeff Ross, did an Icebreaker.  This is what it was:  He told us about a girl named Victoria, who is a cancer survivor and how her story just really touched his heart, but that is all he told us – no details.  He gave us two minutes to fundraise for this little girl at our tables using cash, checks, etc.  Jeff taught 5 sessions throughout the weekend.  At closing ceremonies yesterday with everyone in attendance, he proceeded to tell the detailed story of 11 year old, Victoria.  She is an ambassador to the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life; she has met with state representatives, and even Governor Rick Perry to encourage law changes for more cancer awareness . . . . And how just two weeks before our summit which she was scheduled to attend, she was struck with cancer again.  That at that very moment he was speaking, she was literally fighting for her life.  He told everyone that he had an idea to raise money for Victoria and asked all that was in his fundraising class to stand.  Austin and I stood up, as did about 200 others.  As we stood there, he reached down to the ground and picked up a box.  It held all the money that was raised for Victoria.  He started choking up, as he began speaking, “These people came together to fundraise for this little girl.  Someone they knew nothing about.  Each session had only 2 minutes to raise this money.  Together, in two minutes, these people you see standing before you raised over $4,000!”  We received a standing ovation!  It was the greatest “Thank You” and honor we all could have ever received.

Austin and I met so many amazing people throughout the weekend.  We met some friends for life.  People of whom we laughed with, cried with, drank with, (and drank some more), talked with, and shared stories with.  Some who are 2, 3 and even 4 time cancer survivors!  Some who I will never be able to pronounce or remember the type of cancer they have because it’s not as simple as brain cancer or lung cancer.

But, this weekend, made me realize I really am a superhero.  I am the superhero to my friends and family who are fighting this battle – Austin, Dana, Christine, Grandma Pat, and Sissy Mom, and to my loved ones that lost that fight – my Ni-Ni and Papa.  I am a superhero to every cancer patient out there.  I fight to find a cure so that they can still be here with us tomorrow.  I fight so that my son will grow up to know his Daddy.  I fight so that Dana and Christine’s kids will grow up to know their Momma.  I fight so that when our kids are our age, they will be asking . . . . . . “What was cancer?”  We are superheroes.  You and me.  Fighting for the same thing. . . . a cure.

They all told us that this would be a life changing event, and I believe that now.  I feel like I have been kicking cancer ass for 4 days!  And it ROCKS! 

My reason to Relay is for Austin . . . and Dana, and Christine, and Grandma Pat, and Sissy Mom, and my Ni-Ni and Papa.  I hope that when that challenge comes your way that you will give all your superhero strength for that fight. . . .that cure. . . .that life . . . .for your own reason to Relay!              

Jessica Wall - Event Co-Chair - Irving, Texas - North Texas