Everyone has been touched by Cancer, whether it be through a friend, family member, or even personally. Even though there is no cure for this fatal disease, we at Campbell still desire to help raise money to find a cure through Relay for Life. Hope still remains in our hearts that one day we will not have to hear those dreaded words “You have Cancer”. As a cancer survivor myself, I know what it is like to hear those words and feel hopeless and destined to the fate of whatever course my cancer would take me due to no cure. I am so thankful for the people who still have hope also and care whether or not we live to see another birthday.
Relay for Life at Campbell was held on April 8, 2011 around the academic circle. Clubs and organizations of Campbell set up their tents and tables to sell food, play games, and even give Henna tattoos, all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society and ultimately to find a cure. They sold a variety of food including, hamburgers, BBQ, funnel cakes, snow cones, and smoothies. The first lap, called the Victory Lap, started off Relay at 3:30. It is the lap taken by the survivors and their families celebrating the remission of their cancer. Following the victory lap, anyone else can walk throughout the night. Throughout the afternoon and night, the Relay games were played where each club or organization had to earn points for their team and the team with the most points had money added to their total for the night. The games included blind folded musical chairs, a scavenger hunt, and making an outfit out of newspaper.
Later that night an Australian band played. They were very good….and who does not love foreign accents? Luminaries were lit after they sang. A luminary is a sign of remembrance or honor. You write the name of the person you are either remembering or honoring on the outside of a paper bag and place a candle inside the bag. Then light the candle in remembrance of your loved one. The last lap of the night is called the Memory Lap and it is a time where the luminaries are lit and we do a final lap remembering the ones who lost the battle against cancer and praising God for the ones who are still with us today. As everyone walked the last lap tears were shed, memories were made, and prayers were lifted. Amazing Grace was sung beautifully in the background and you could feel the hand of God moving through the people to offer comfort and hope.
The Campbell Relay for Life’s goal was 10,000 dollars and we raised over 18,000 dollars. That is an amazing accomplishment. It is amazing to know that all of this money is being used for such an inspiring cause. I personally would like to thank everyone who showed up and donated not only their money, but their time. It means so much that even seven years being cancer free, I could have not won my battle. But with my amazing friends, family, and my beautiful Savior by my side, I knew I could over come anything.