July 20, 2009
Relay for Life
Portland Firefly has been invited to participate in an event called the Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
The Relay for Life will begin at Valley Catholic High School (corner of TV Highway and Murray, Beaverton, Oregon) at 10:00 am on August 1 , 2009 and ending on August 2nd.
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Relays are an overnight event, up to 24 hours in length.
An important part of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® is the celebration of nearly 11 million cancer survivors who are alive in the United States today. Survivors include anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. Whether you are currently fighting your battle, or have been cancer-free for many years, you are a survivor. This definition is something new to Portland Firefly, since I am still in treatment for my peritoneal cancer, I really did not consider myself a “survivor”, but since I am still alive, I am a survivor! Yeah!
The event begins with a special survivor lap, where all of the survivors and their caregivers will walk once around the track. All of the survivors will receive a special “survivor” t-shirt. Guess what color it is? You only get one guess on this weblog!!! And I bet you get it right! Yes, the survivor t-shirt is purple!!! And then we will be served a special lunch catered by the Olive Garden … mmmm…. salad and pasta! As night falls, there is another special happening, the lighting of the luminerias. Many of the luminarias have been donated in honor or in memory of someone. Again, the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research.
Portland Firefly is VERY honored to have been invited to participate in this event and she is really looking forward to it. I’ll be in the survivor tent most of the time I am there. If you are in the area on Saturday, August 1, stop by and encourage the teams. The relay will continue through the night for 24 hours straight ending about 10:00 am on August 2nd.
