Sunday, June 19, 2011

relay recap

I'm not going to lie to you... I spent most of yesterday asleep. Relay for Life will do that to you.

It's not just physically exhausting and oh boy is it physically exhausting, but it's emotionally exhausting too. It doesn't start out that way though. Nope when the teams start getting together there's a real party atmosphere.....

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How can it not be a party when you're dressed like this? My girls really brought it with their outfits. People commented more than once about how great we looked. Unfortunately we weren't quite awesome enough to win best dressed team this year.... the ladies with cupcake fascinators took that honour.... don't worry girls I won't make you wear pastries on your head next year. I have to say our tent looked amazing thanks to ML. We didn't take best decorated tent and I think we were robbed, but there's always next year!

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And that sign right there... that Dream Team sign...... I am so proud of! There was 60 teams and only about half a dozen dream teams. At one point the Mom of a 16 year old cancer survivor came over and thanked us for being a dream team. It was an overwhelmingly hopeful moment.

So that part is fun and great and then opening ceremonies start. My team lined up a long the sidelines to cheer on the people in the Survivor's Victory lap. There always seems to be at least one small child in a yellow survivor shirt that gets my tears flowing and that's just the beginning. Over the course of the 12 hours we girls, shed tears.....

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held hands.....

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hugged.....

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and slept.......

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and we walked. Oh boy did we walk. Like I said it's not an easy night, but that seems fitting because cancer isn't easy. It's an event I am proud to say I was a part if with a team I am so proud to call my dream team. Thank you again ladies for coming out and taking on this adventure with me. Same time next year, okay!

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7 comments:

Pam said...

Beautiful. Congratulations on doing such an important event. You are an inspiration.

H Munro said...

I am so impressed you walked all night. I did the relay a few years ago and most of the teams went in their tents and slept after midnight.It really made me angry, you are suppose to walk all night in a relay fashion! And I was even more annoyed when they were first in line for breakfast.

Shan said...

Pam - thank you. I am so incredibly proud of my team!

H Munro - Yeah we had some of that too. A lot of that actually. Some of the team did sleep, but just in snatches. We always had someone out walking on the track.

Can't wait for next year!

Julie said...

way to go dream team captain. thank you for doing what you did.

Goofball said...

it gives me chills.

Leah said...

you gals ROCKED!!!! What an amazing group. Congrats! xoxo

Merry said...

So proud of you for doing this! You and your team are awesome!