Take a stand against cancer

To the editor,
    With this year’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life fast approaching, I have taken it upon myself to write an uplifting message and say thank you to my fellow relayers. What a great job we are doing! It is my first year as a participant, and although I feel like a fish out of water … thanks to the “veterans of relays past”, I am starting to settle into a “welcome home” atmosphere. Karin Howe has been a great mentor and an absolute blessing, the start of a friendship that I am certain will last for many birthdays to come.     I am a cancer survivor! Wow, it’s the first time in three years I feel “safe” enough to say that out loud. Yes, cancer is a terrible thing that happened to me, but in many ways it has also been a blessing. Not the cancer itself of course … but the lessons I’ve chosen to learn along the way.
    For me, cancer was the wake-up call I needed to be a better person and to focus more on my family, friends, community and a cause much larger than myself. As a result of my diagnosis, I was able for the first time in my life, to work on being significant and not just successful.
    Relay is my chance to give back and make a difference to those who have helped me. It’s also an opportunity to put my stamp on finding a cure and a unique way to become a voice through the darkness of cancer.
    We all need something to look back on that makes us smile. Being passionate toward a cause makes waking up worthwhile, and Relay is fast becoming my personal passion. I am so glad an angel named Anne took it upon herself to push me to pursue this. I have already met some lifelong friends and made memories I won’t soon be forgetting. I can only imagine what Relay Night will do for me and I can’t wait!
    As I write, we have 38 teams and over 300 participants … let’s make it 50 Aroostook County! We can do it! The American Cancer Society needs you, our County teams welcome you, and I urge you to join us. I promise you, you won’t regret it. If Relay doesn’t touch your heart … then it’s clear to me that you don’t have one.
    Visit us at www.main.acsevents.org or join us on FaceBook under ‘Aroostook County Relay for Life’. Support me and my Team Survivor as we “Perspire to Inspire”. Be on the lookout for all our teams and fund-raisers, and please come out to donate to our wonderful cause. We all have some pretty spectacular events planned. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for June 4 and meet us at the Caribou High School.
    Cancer stinks! Make a statement … take a stand … join us.