Relay For Life

I thank God every day for one more day with my dad. He’s had inoperable lung cancer for years. He’s suffered two strokes, has had one lung removed and has good days and not so good days. And for my cousin Lucie, who has battled through two rounds of breast cancer. She was able to work every day through her last rounds of chemo and thankfully has be in remission for a year now.

I grasp tightly onto the words: “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” (Psalm 39:7) during those days we wait for test results.

I thank God for the others whose stories I carry within my heart, who have survived cancer and who are currently in the midst of the battle. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

People you may know too.

I celebrate the lives of people who courageously went back for one more round or radiation or chemo and, despite their resolve to fight, they still died.

I remember their caregivers in my prayers still, especially on those “small victory” days when it sure is difficult to not wish the story had turned out differently so you could share the moment.

This year theAlley is participating in the South Washington County Relay for Life being held from 6 p.m. Friday, June 4 through 6 a.m. Saturday, June 5th at East Ridge High School in Woodbury.

The Relay for Life is a fundraiser that the American Cancer Society does across the country to help raise money and awareness for cancer.

Basically people get together to celebrate, remember and fight back by pledging to walk around a track from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. It’s a fun community event and in the great, grand scheme of cancer, it’s pretty simple.

With 38 days left until the relay, there are 85 teams signed up, and across all of the teams we’ve already raised over $36,200.

The Alley has an adult team and a youth team and truly we really could use a few more people on our teams. (We ask that if you would like to walk on either of the teams that you please sign up online. Even an hour of walking would be a great help.)

theAlley Team

theAlley Youth Team

Also, if you are a cancer survivior, not only would we love to be praying with you, there is a part of this event that honors survivors. Please let us know if you would like to participate. Or just come out on the evening of June 4th – 5th and see what’s it’s all about.

I’m always a little staggered when I see the number of survivors of cancer being honored. That’s a lot of people this disease has touched. Each one has a story.

One of the ways money is raised is by selling lumenaria (little white bags with a candle) that teams decorate with names of people they wish to honor or remember. At sundown (typically around 9 p.m.) the bags are placed around a track and ceremonially lit. These bags stay lit as long as the elements allow and light the path the walkers take throughout the night. (Last year my cousin Lucie’s bag stayed lit until almost 6 a.m.)

I am always amazed at the stories that are shared through these little white bags and staggered a little by the enormity of how many people’s lives are touched by cancer.

I’d also love to be able to use this forum to share your story, remember the person you loved who lost the battle or honor a caregiver who is also along through this journey. What’s your story? How do you stay encouraged? How can we be praying?

For more information you can also contact Alesha Schutz (our team captain) or I’d be happy to answer any questions.

meet the blogger: tina strelau

Tina Strelau is a member of theAlley’s Relay for Life team and served as team captian in 2008 and 2009. She also leads theAlley Visual Team and is a member of the prayer team. Tina is single and lives in Newport. She works in marketing communications for the healthcare division of Ecolab in St. Paul. Formely from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, she roots for the Cubs and particularly enjoys Lou Malnati’s pizza.