The beginning of our story was when my aunt was in the hospital battling breast cancer.  As I saw her lying there, I began thinking...Why wasn't this caught earlier???  Maybe there would have been a chance. At that point I promised myself to get checked over to make sure I was ok, since I was feeling rundown and not feeling quite right. 

After one doctor dismissed my symptoms..I quickly found another.  Breast cancer was a thought...did I or didn't I have something going on?  Yes, I did, but it was in the kidney my new family physician told me.  Yes, it was cancer.

 Right after my experience going through what had to be done, a cousin suggested.."Let's get a relay team together" in honor of Julie and our aunt, and for everyone in the family and friends who have gone through this."  So, we did.

I walked my first relay when I was 7 months cancer free. At that time it was still difficult for me to talk about it, or listen to other stories of survivors.  When the event was done, our team felt like we really accomplished something good for those on the mission to find a cure. 

Last year we walked again, our second Relay.  We raised even more money than we did before, and are known for being one of the newest and very successful teams at our event. 

Not only do we watch the $$ amount grow, but we bring together more and more people who have never seen what the relay is all about.  You meet new friends, and have a proud feeling of everyone who is part of the relay.  It's a place where we all feel part of the team.  The team that walks for a cure. 

And for me, I want to bring attention to kidney cancer.  Because I was aware that something was wrong, and I had a doctor who took my parents health history into consideration...I am alive today.  If I would have ignored the light feeling of nausea, constant lower back ache, extreme tiredness....to name a few...this could've taken my life.  So, for anyone reading this...KIDNEYS have to be checked. 

What does the relay mean to me?  Well, it means giving back to those before me. It's a thank you for research, so I could have an advanced form of surgery that didn't leave much of a scar.  I compare what happened to my dad, a kidney cancer survivor....look at the scar....he has a large cut, where mine is so small.  What does the future hold?  It holds hope for better ways to deal with the cancers that affect us today. 

This is why we walk.  :)  Thanks for reading my story.  ~Julie G. from PA.