Day 25: Relay For Life

Ok so I know that it is not day 25, more like day 100 lol I know I have not been updating my blog, but so many things have taken up my time. School is almost done and I have 3 weeks left and I cannot wait til my Summer begins!

So two weekends ago Cal Poly Pomona had Relay for Life from April 27- 28 from 1pm to 1pm. Relay for Life is a 24 hour event that raises awareness for cancer and helps raise money for cancer research.This was my first year participating and it went really well. I was on committee being a Co Team Captain and Registration Chair. I think at first it was really hectic since nobody really told me what to do for registration, but after awhile it all calmed down and I got through it. We started at 1pm and began with the survivors. We had a speaker who was only a Sophomore in high school and was a survivor of brain cancer. It was a great ceremony and lead the way to the beginning of the laps for the 24 hours. Honestly I was surprised at how many people walked laps throughout the day into the night, even in the wee hours of the night. What really touched me through out the whole event was the Luminaria ceremony. This is a time where we Remember, remembering those that lost the battle with cancer, Celebrate, celebrating those who fought and won the battle against cancer, and Fight Back, fighting back by raising more awareness and not losing hope on finding a cure for cancer. Everyone at the event held candles and Sean and I held lit candles, we asked people to come up and light their candle if they were a survivor or knew a survivor of cancer, but what really brought me to tears was how many people lit their candles remembering their loved ones that were lost to cancer, whether they were their grandparents, aunts or even uncles. So many people came up to us that at that point I couldn't hold it in. As they walked a lap in silence with the luminaria bags lighting the track I just cried silently. It was really touching.

Though there were some stressful points in the relay overall I think it went really well. I stayed up all 24 hours and I am so happy I did, when I couldn't figure out what to do I just walked around the track looking at the bags people designed for their loved ones. Participants set up 'camp' and most people were asleep on couches and in actual tents. I'm so glad I participated this year and will definitely do it again next year. 

Til Next Time!

We had a DJ for ALL 24 HOURS

When we first got going

The sun starting to rise, stayed up all night!

All the campsites and people walking the track