Relay for LIfe

As a reporter, I get to do a lot of cool things, go fun places and cover special events on a regular basis. The Lancaster County Relay for Life has been one of those events. I think I've been to at least three of them as a reporter for WGAL. When I visited, they were held at Lancaster Catholic High School. For a while, the county had just one. But the more people were touched by cancer, the more people wanted to participate. Now there are hundreds of teams, raising millions of dollars in 6 different relays in Lancaster County.

The staff of 8 Lime asked me to participate with them this year. Cally Marzolf is a nurse on the Cancer Floor and she's always taken wonderful care of me (both in 2009 and this year). Just seeing her smiling face when she walks in the door makes you forget you're even in the hospital. When she asked if I would walk the Survivor Lap for her team Hands of Hope, I was honored to be a part of such an amazing team.

As a reporter, I've witnessed the Survivor Lap and the Luminaria Ceremony and they are emotional events. But standing on the track on a cancer patient I was fighting back tears. The stands are full of people who have all held onto to hope. They continuously clap as the cancer survivors make their way around the track. It's so unbelievably inspiring.

I walked with a cancer survivor named Randy Bucher. He stopped me in Walmart a few weeks ago and said he'd be at the Relay and was I going. I told him I'd be there. In the crowds of people on the track, Randy found me and we walked together. Afterwards, he sent me this e-mail: Meredith, it was nice walking the lap with ya ! not sure why we look mad lol stay strong! i will keep you in my prayers.

I don't think we're mad. We're just serious about surviving cancer!! The relay also features the Survivor of the Year and the Caregiver of the Year. This year the American Cancer Society picked Kim Smith, a 4 year breast cancer survivor. What a wonderful choice! I know Kim and she is a brilliant attorney, a powerful and accomplished woman and absolute role model. She also kicked cancer's ass, which makes me love her even more! One day, I'm going to be like her.

I'm not quite a survivor ... yet. But God knows, I am surviving. And they didn't kick me off the track for that technicality. Part of the reason I'm surviving is because of Cally and her co-workers on 8 Lime. If you'd like to donate to their team, Hands of Hope, please visit their link:
Hands Of Hope Relay for Life

The Luminaria in my honor.