I have walked in Grays Harbor’s Relay for Life since 1998.  This year I have volunteered to be co-captain of the Kilowatt Kids team.  I have always donated my time and participated in fundraising. I have always given my best.  I feel my best needs to be stepped up a notch.  I need to do more.

Why? I ask myself that question every time I have to give a little more time than I used to. Why? I ask myself that question every time someone criticizes someone else. Why? I ask myself that question every time I feel like giving up? Why? I ask myself that question every time someone feels our efforts are good enough already. Why? I ask myself that question every time someone resists change. Why? I ask myself that question every time someone I know is diagnosed with cancer.

It only takes a minute to remember why: my mom, June, who never saw my children; my Aunt Barbara; my Aunt Helen; my grandfather, Floyd; my cousin, Joyce; my sister-in-law, Shirley; my father-in-law, Jim; and my niece, Cheryl. 

And closest to home, my sister, Peggy: diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer last summer.  She has gone through chemotherapy and had a mastectomy.  She will be undergoing radiation soon. 

And just last week, Sarah: only 22 years old, recently married and preparing to graduate from the UW, died from a brain tumor. I never met Sarah; she was the cousin of my girls’ best friend, Liz.  However, she was such a positive influence and excellent role model.  The kind of person the world needs.

These are the names that quickly jump to mind, ones that had a great impact on my life. There are so many others.  I try not to think of them as “people I know with cancer”, but as people I know. They are individuals; they are not their disease. 

My co-captain Tracy is new at Grays Harbor PUD and has never even been to a Relay Event.  She doesn’t know how we have done it in the past and is bringing a lot of good ideas to the table.  She is so enthusiastic and ready to take on the world.  With her help, I will step up to the challenge; my best will be better than ever.  I will no longer ask why, but how. How can I encourage others to participate? How will I motivate them to do their best? How will I make a difference?

Only the future knows what is in store . . . .

See you in the funny papers - Roberta