"This past fortnight has been shocking here. We lost a close work colleague and her family; have had two Relay towns burnt to the ground and are hearing so many stories of hardship and horror. Melbourne has been blanketed in smoke for the past week - many of the fires are burning in a one hour radius to the city - so it's very close and a reason why so many deaths - commuter distance to the city. and, unfortunately they are still burning (although now mainly in forests, away from communities),) and the toll will go higher as they only now are sifting through some of the smaller communities impacted by this.
"So, I have been meaning to contact you through all of this and enquire how some of the Relays have coped and the key messages they have conveyed when their local communities have been faced with such distractions of horrific proportions - Cyclone Katrina comes to mind but I realise there are other examples too. Any thoughts?" - Anthony Keogh, cancervic.org
"Our dear Australian friends and colleagues: Our hearts go out to you with compassion for the horrific disaster you have experienced and the incredible aftermath you are enduring. Please know that your American Cancer Society Relay friends share in your sorrow at the loss of friends and co workers as well as in your personal losses. While there is little that we can do half the world away we hope that our expressions of love and concern through relayforlife.org will inspire and encourage you - our dear Relay friends. Relay For Life is about easing the cancer burden, but we are friends in hope that go beyond our common thread. Please know that thoughts, prayers and hope for better things to come are extended to you from your Relay friends across America." - Phylecia Wilson, Chair - International Relay Advisory Team
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February 19, 2009 - 5:02pm
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Australian Bush Fires
Please feel our love, support and prayers from the Relay Communities in TEXAS. We have shared your story and are thinking of ways to reach out to you and yours during this time. Our Galveston TX Relay, affected by Hurricane Ike, will still carry on this year, in spite of hardships and heartache. Their money may be small, but their hearts and spirits are large, and will carry the life saving hope that ACS and cancer fighters around the world can bring. Other TX Relay communities are supporting Galveston, and I challenge any Relays that can go to Australia to send people to their Relays as a sign of support. I wish all my committee could go over to help.
You are at the end of our heartstrings and we feel with you. Please know that our hearts are with you and will continue to lift you up through these next few months.
Purple Haired Patti
Hero of Hope 06, High Plains Division, Kingwood Texas
To our friends in Australia
We are so sadden to hear of your plight. Please know that we are all praying for you and know that your strength will get you through this horrible time you are experiencing. You now have new friends that want to help with anything that we can do to make sure that you are all safe and recovering. God bless you all and keep you safe.
To the Australian
To the Australian community and the International Relay For Life;
We here in the State of New Hampshire, in the country of The United States, are just heartsick
to hear of your tragic losses.
We have a small Relay For Life in Merrimack County, Town of Sutton State of New Hampshire.
Please accept our prayers and hope.
We will dedicate one of our Relay hours to your country's plight.
With hope,
Christine Nelson
klsrflnh@yahoo.com
relayforlife.org/KLSNH
Kearsarge Lake Sunapee Relay For Life
Chair 2008 (All Star Event) 2009 and will be Co Chair 2009
2008 Sandra Labaree Volunteer Values Award Winner
Thinking of you!
To our Australian friends and Relayers -
All of us ACS volunteers have you in our thoughts and prayers! Relay For Life is an event that can be paralleled to the cancer experiance. It begins with an atmosphere of hope and anticipation for the events to begin. As the night falls, it brings with it the coldness and darkness that the disease brings. But as dawn apporaches, a new beam of renewal and home emerge, as we remember why we fought through the night - to find a cure. As you are able to move back into your hometowns and kick-off the new season of Relay events, I'm sure your events will take on a new meaning paralleling itself not only to the cancer experiance, but to a new sense of rebuilding and community around an even stronger Relay event.
Working towards a cure,
Adam Schwartz
International Relay For Life Advisory Team
Praying for strength and comfort
To our Relay family and friends in Australia,
Our thoughts and prayers to you during this incredibly sad and difficut time. Please know your friends across the world are thinking of you.
May God comfort you, lift up your spirit and bless you with the strength to keep on going even if you have to start with baby steps again.
Thelma Suson - International Relay Advisory Team
Thoughts and Prayers
To our dearest Australian Friends:
Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to you, your family, friends, colleagues and Relay communities. The Amerian Cancer Society sends all the love and support you need to get through this difficult time. Please know that although so far away, we are here for you in any way that you need.
Dawn Ramsay, International Relay Advisory Team
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