If you do not know, Relay for Life is an event organized by the American Cancer Society. Teams raise money and attend an event for cancer awareness and remembrance, while uniting to find the cure.
While my school district put on an event last year, it was somewhat poorly attended because of its last-minute planning. Additionally, it did not go overnight, lasting only around six hours. I attended, but don't believe I received the whole experience that Relay is. This probably also amounted to the fact that I was on a team that signed up for shifts, and I only attended for a couple of hours. It did have its benefits though: I enjoyed the time I spent with my friends, and the relatively small number of people allowed the games to be very fun.
I, personally, began my journey to Relay very late. I was unsure if I would be available on the date (it was in the summer), and when my plans began to solidify, I saw Relay would be two days before an international trip I was taking. Perhaps not the best of circumstances.
However, due to the urging of the committee to my school's student body, as well as my own desire to participate, I finally asked my friends if they wanted to create a team with me. As younger members of our school (the committee was created of seniors, only, I believe), I found no teams that I, or my friends, would really belong to. I found that frustrating, but only increased my efforts to start our own team.
Finally, I received positive feedback. A few of my friends would definitely participate with me! As the one who had constantly bothered my friends, prodding for resolute answers and creating a monster of a Facebook thread, I began and captained our team: Team Ready for a Cure.
Okay. I know, I know, the team name is not the most original, nor the most creative. But honestly, at this point, we had less than a week until the Relay. Less than a week to organize who was bringing what, to fundraise, to fit the twelve hour event into our schedules. I worked frantically to try to familiarize my friends with what would happen, so they, and I, would be well prepared in terms of being registered, having sweatshirts and long jeans to change into, etc. I scoured the Relay for Life website for checklists of items to bring, continued to bother my friends by sending them hourly weather charts of the event (oh yes, I'm a bit obsessive), registration forms, etc. Due to the lack of time, I was able to raise a bit of money from my family members and myself, but that was it, unfortunately.
Finally, it was the day! I was very excited to spend my time enjoying the event, until literally half an hour before I was going to leave.
ADULT SUPERVISION.
I can't tell you how much I was panicking. I had spent so many hours (literally!) making sure my team had everything it needed, and these measly thirty minutes before I was to arrive, we would perhaps not be able to spend the night? I was pretty much going out of my mind.
Thankfully, I asked a graduated senior who I had become pretty close to, who told me his team didn't have a supervisor and that the committee would probably not kick my team out. It was a school event after all, teams created by kids would have to be acceptable.
Grateful for his help but still not knowing if we would be able to spend the whole time there, I picked up one of my friends and arrived at the event. After learning with glee they would allow us to stay overnight without an adult supervisor (honestly, we really didn't need one), I worked with my mom and friend to set up the tent.
If you don't know me personally, my family is very un-outdoorsy. We love nature and its incredible beauty, but camping just doesn't work with us. We tried camping in a tent at a church retreat once, and never went again.
As you can probably guess, therefore, my mother and I served almost zero help to my brilliant, amazing friend who set up the complicated tent virtually all by herself. After that, my three other friends arrived one by one, until we were our complete Team Relay for Life: a solid five members (aw, yeah).
I'm not going to go singlehandedly into each amazing event that took place that 13.5 hours, but it is a night (and morning) I will never forget.
I was able to discuss and remember effects cancer have had on my life, and my friends shared their stories. It was an incredible thing for me, because in all honesty, nobody talks about stories like these in school. It's just something you keep and struggle with to yourself in school, even with your friends. It was amazing to share stories, to see where we were all coming from, and to sympathize and empathize with each other.
In the beginning, we all walked together until splitting off (two people wanted to put bug spray on, stayed for a LONG time at our campsite eating and talking, when they finally returned, the other three were tired and needed a break, etc.). Eventually, though, I think we just couldn't bear being separated. We all walked together around the track for a long time, talking, laughing, skipping, dancing, linking arms.
I still remember walking and seeing the gorgeous sunset, with hundreds of people from my community around me rallying for the same cause. The sky lit with soft pinks, purples, and blues, as the sun sank underneath the radiant clouds to the darkness below.
After darkness fell, one of the most memorable occasions of Relay took place: the Luminaria ceremony. The bags with candles were decorated by people earlier during the event (I believe four of my friends bought and decorated one) and lined up around the track. In the darkness, the luminaria bags were lit. Snuggled in our jeans, sweatshirts, sweatpants, my friends all settled down onto the grass to watch the ceremony commence.
An emotional and amazing Luminaria ceremony took place that night. A couple people spoke of people they loved who had fought and lost to cancer, and a slideshow of survivors and those who, unfortunately, did not survive, took place above the track. Afterwards, we walked a lap of silence to remember those who had fought cancer. Linking arms with my friends, we walked together, looking at all the names that adorned the luminaria bags around the track. On the bleachers, luminaria bags created the word "hope".
It was so incredible.
Afterwards, Relay continued. I had an extremely memorable, 11-lap, hour long (my friends counted) discussion with the same graduate I mentioned earlier. I had spent time with him beforehand, but didn't know him individually too well. I really admired him, perhaps from afar, however, as he is a role model for many. Our conversation contained pretty much everything: it was amazing. I believe we learned so much about and from each other, even in that one conversation.
My friends and I became inseparable by this time. We refused to split up, like we had earlier, going as an entire team to walk the track, and then back to our campsite to talk, laugh, etc. I had an unbelievably good time with them. Particularly memorable was our decision to walk another lap after we had been resting for a couple of hours. This was probably around 3 A.M. We were incredibly sore (we walked for such a long time!), but persevered on, linking arms and kind of shuffling/tripping around the track. We finally slept (more like napped), completely exhausted and sprawled on top of each other, at I believe, 5 A.M. or so.
To be awoken half an hour or so later. It was time to pack up!
As we waited for others to finish packing (I'd say most teams had at least eight people as opposed to our five), we sat in our lawn chairs looking somewhat grumpily (but good-naturedly!) at the early morning sun (another of my friends and I, the non-morning people, had missed the actual sunrise). The sun fell so beautifully over the school above us, painting it with light and color. The sky had never looked so bright blue and alive.
We took our last lap together as participants of the Relay. Once again, I stumbled/walked with my team, arm in arm. We took pictures of our luminaria bags, and then waited together for our parents to pick us up, smiling, fooling around, and interacting grumpily but with love.
Despite being prepared only for a week, with only a five person team, my Relay experience was surreal. I truly felt the community uniting to fight cancer, to remember, celebrate, and honor together. I shared stories with, and was told stories, I maybe would have not shared or heard. I empathized with my friends, and community. I solidified my relationship with, and got to know, someone who is the closest thing to an older brother I have ever had. I have countless memories of my friends and I laughing, talking, and fooling around during our 13.5 hours together. I remembered my mom's and family's fight with cancer. I found determination to prevent any other family from having to deal with the deadly disease that is cancer. My friends and I talked without letting gossip darken our time together. I got the most exercise I will most likely get this year. Oh, and I received a snazzy t-shirt with "Team Captain" on the back.
There are too many words, too many memories. I will never forget it.
If you ever have the opportunity, please look for a Relay for Life around you. Get some peers, coworkers, or friends (friends, I think, make for the most enjoyable companions!) to join you: be proactive in creating a Relay experience for yourself. It is a big commitment, as most are overnight. But you will not regret it! It is an extraordinary way to, as the American Cancer Society says, to "Celebrate. Remember. [And] Fight Back.".
Cancer has affected an incredible amount of people all over the world. Relay is an amazing way you can raise money and awareness to fight against it, whilst uniting with your community and spending time with people you love.
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