“If you are a cancer survivor, light your glo-stick.” A few lights sparked around us. “If you have a parent that has had cancer, light your glo-stick.” More lights crackled on around us as the stillness of an impending Midwestern thunder storm pressed down. “If you have a child with cancer, light your glo-stick.” My heart caught in my chest and I said a silent prayer, thankful that my glo-stick remained unlit. And on it went until the bleachers around us were lit up with red, yellow and green glo-sticks like so many fireflies in the deepening dark. As we stood to begin the luminary lap, Gym Buddy Megan leaned over and whispered, “They never said ‘If you have a brother with cancer…’ ” It was then I noticed the tears that glittered on her cheek.
If our parents are our past and our children are our future, then our siblings are our present. They are the only ones who’ve been with us since the day we’re born and experienced our lives in real time with us. Megan’s brother Kevin – 32-year-old husband and father of two – should not have cancer, but he does. As we walked quietly past all the lit bags, each inscribed with a loved one’s name, the announcer intoned, “This is why we walk, for the hope that someday no one will ever have to hear the words ‘You have cancer.'” Hope is powerful medicine.
Friday night found Gym Buddies Megan, Allison, Sara, Rosana and I participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. As you may remember from a month ago, we were participating in honor of Megan’s brother Kevin who is currently battling rectal cancer and Gym Buddy Jess who is 6 months cancer-free after being treated last year for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
When we got there, we – and by “we” I mean “them” – set up some tents (the buffet tent being the most critical, obviously!) and donned our tutus becoming the fabulously alliterative Team Tutu Turbokickers.
We started out the evening fresh-faced and fancy-free, giggling at inappropriate things (what happens at Relay stays at Relay!) and getting our butts smacked by Megan every time she lapped us on the track.
The first few laps were so easy, it was like flying – literally, if you’re Allison!
We broke up the monotony by showing off our sweet dance moves. Here Allison just finished doing her “ghetto walk” and Megan is demonstrating her cowboy jig. The best part was they were both talking in the worst Irish accents ever.
Then we met up with Jess and her family by the Survivor’s Tent where we took a dance break to first do The Potty Dance with 3-year-old Jack and then corrupt the preschooler by teaching him the “Roll, pump and slap” move from Turbokick. (If you are curious, you can check out the video I took!)
Jess’ two boys kinda broke my heart with their sweetly scribbled “Mom” luminary.
This may be my favorite picture of Megan ever!
Then the DJ played “Y.M.C.A” and of course we had to do the dance. Megan’s got the M, Al’s got the Y and Jess has… dyslexia? What is that letter, girl??
Megan made 3 luminaries for family members – Kevin’s was particularly funny since he has rectal cancer. (Get it??)
As the night went on, Allison and I decided to stick to just walking the track (stopping every couple of laps for more of Allison’s fabulous veggies and dip) but Megan pressed on. Her goal was to do at least 10 miles in honor of her brother but as lightning lit up the horizon and the humidity rising faster than my hair can curl, she wasn’t sure if she would make it.
The rain finally hit around 11 p.m. This is when Al and I – wusses that we are – decided to check out and go home. Megan stayed to run in the rain with Sara and Rosana. The beads on their necklaces show how many miles they’ve done. By this point, Megan was at 12, Allison was at 7 and I was at 6. They ended up ending the Relay early because of the electrical storm at 2 a.m.
The next morning it’s tradition to hit Turbo Jennie’s TurboKick class wearing our Relay For Life t-shirts. (Turbo Jennie: “Charlotte, when did you find time to doctor up your shirt between last night and this morning? Were you running the track with scissors??” Of course not! I’m a mother, I would never run with scissors! I was walking the track with scissors. Kidding – I cut it up at home. Also, note that we are all wearing fresh tutus. I love us.) This pic was snapped after we did like 5 straight finales so forgive the sweaty Turbo hair!
This is what exercise is really about. It’s about bringing people together. It’s about helping people live so they can be with those they love. Whether you’re walking to raise money for cancer research like we did or hitting the weights to keep your heart strong so you can watch your grand kids graduate from college, this is why we workout. (And also for the divine trail mix Megan made. Really you should have tried it – best combo of salty and sweet ever.)
Why do you exercise? Have you ever participated in a fundraiser like this? This was my first time actually being on the team and I gotta say it was a riot! HUGE HUGE thank you to all of you who donated to the ACS on behalf of our team. Each of you – whether you supported us monetarily or just with prayers or good vibes – are angels and we felt you with us that night.
How awesome. Love that you did it.
I used to do MS Centuries (bike) for the National MS society. I haven’t done anything recently- I sorta feel that I tapped out all my friends’ wallets with the MS rides 🙂
Now I exercise for several reasons…sadly weight control is the top of the list, and sanity is a close second.
Now if you excuse me, I need to go run with scissors. 🙂
I exercise for different reasons, depending on the day. Sanity, endorphins, and health are all up there on my list though.
I’ve never done a race like this, but I really want to. I will. Soon.
And I want your tutu. Both of them. Where did you get them?!?!
I just did the Reno Tahoe Odyssey Relay – had so much fun – we also ran in tutus! 😉
Oh Charlotte Id say Im sentimental today and THATS why this choked me up…but it isnt.
This is so so so lovely and why we should all do whatever it is we do.
to DO UNTO.
xo
That’s nice that you can mix a good cause, fitness, and fun together. I always think that if a person is just doing fitness–just for fitness–that they are missing out. I’ve taught several women how to bench press and, otherwise, help people learn different types of exercises and machines at the gym. I always get back more than I give.
🙂 Marion
It’s totally awesome that you did that for your friends. On top of it, that you all sported your tutu’s just made it 10x better. 🙂 You seemed to bring a lot of light to people there, which is even better.
I’ve done the Race for a Cure 5k. The one year I ran for a team put together for my friend’s mom in law, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I remember the lady was so touched that I ran it, and while I wasn’t able to catch up with them, when I ran into her later at my friend’s house, the was the first thing she mentioned and thanked me for.
It means so much to those affected when people support them and want to help. More importantly, when people care.
I’ve done Relay for Life several times, beginning in college, and I absolutely love it. My mom is a breast cancer survivor so it’s very emotional for me, and I usually cry at least a few times during the night (sometimes more). I’ve usually stayed through till morning, because of the whole thing about “cancer doesn’t sleep and neither will we until we find a cure,” which I love for the symbolism. I like that your R4L did the beads thing – the first R4L I did used those, and I ended up covering over 20 miles and dragging the chain of beads behind me, which felt great. Subsequent Relays haven’t had the beads though, but I think they’re such a neat thing. Thank you so much for supporting such a great cause!
Oh – you will probably like this. At my first Relay, our team’s fundraiser was a Nerf gun and a picture of a tumor; $1 allowed you to “take a shot at cancer” and win something if you hit the tumor.
My thoughts are with your friends brother, cancer is a jerk.
This is a beautiful, meaningful post. Every single one of my Dad’s sisters (5 of them) has had breast cancer. I have never been able to get it together to do a relay for life, but it’s on my to-be list: an advocate for my family and friends.
PS I need a Frankie says relax shirt ASAP!
Awesome! And it looks like you guys had fun!
I’m going to do the relay one day. This year it coincided with Ride A Wave and Father’s Day, so I couldn’t do it. I DID do the Livestrong ride a few years ago, and someday I want to do the Best Buddies Challenge. Maybe even the Avon 3-Day!
(I used to have a “Frankie Say Relax” shirt, back in the day. I wore it so often it got, well, disgusting, and finally had to dump it. I miss it!)
I read this site regularly but have never commented before. However, my 38 year old husband was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer last August. Next month we will be running/walking with over 170 of our friends/family in the KC Get Your Rear in Gear 5K to raise money for the Colon Cancer Coalition. I wrote a post on my husband’s carepages site a few weeks ago about why Andrew and I run – I have attached a link here.
http://www.carepages.com/carepages/KeepingUpWithTheSomoras/updates/3042287
Thanks for doing the Relay for Life!
It looks like you had a great time for a great cause. I’d love to do the Relay For Life and I know my mom, sister, best friend and boyfriend would be on board; possibly even more friends!
Even though weight loss is one of my reasons to exercise, knowing I’ll be healthy enough to help others throughout my life is the main objective. I also want to inspire others to be more active and find a cause/charity they believe in to support. Mine happens to be therapeutic horseback riding and being healthy will allow me to help the riders who participate for a much longer time and in a greater capacity.
The cause nearest and dearest to my heart:
http://rivervalleyriders.org/
Thanks for the post! I’m doing my first relay in July. I’m excited and nervous all at once. I lost both my Father and my Grandmother to cancer last year. It’s going to be a tough night, but it will be worth it!!!
Rea first part of this post brought tears to my eyes as I remembered running in the relay for my sister Pam, who had Ewings Sarcoma at the age of 9…it was and IS such a great event! I’m so glad you got to experience it!!
and what you said about exercising bringing friends together… that is so true!! It should be about the fun, and the friendship, not about trying to look a certain way, or be a certain way…
and I’m so super jealous of the tutus….you know how many times I’ve tried to get people to wear one with me!?! I mean, yes, I may just be going to the grocery store, but why can’t I look fab?
I exercise for my life. Not only to keep healthy physically but to keep the worst of the crazy at bay. Working out literally saves me. Every. Single. Time. I battle severe mental illness and without exercise I would not be here, even when I end up in hospital I work out, it is better than any of the meds ever. I hope one day to help others like me use exercise as a tool to manage their mental health, but until then I’ll keep up the fight and keep sweating it out. I plan on running relay for life for a dear friend who is far too young and vivacious to have cancer, her fight inspires me daily, and she will be there to smack our butts!
Hugs & more hugs from me who has lost my mom, mother-in-law & grandma to cancer… it hits so many of us. I LOVE LOVE the pics once again & it shows how we all can come together to help.
Each year I mention the Sarcoma group on my site as you may remember to help that rare cancer that gets little funding & that my mom died from.
Hugs to all of you & your friends Charlotte!
Great post Char & I can’t thank you, my sister & your team for your support. Cancer is a faceless, filthy disease & events like RFL & those alike are an emotional & inspirational way to combine fitness & fundraising to remember, honor & support those who have faught against the cause (that is one serious run on sentence). Your update brought instant tears to my eyes & I truly appreciate you’d support! Thank You!!!!