I participated in Relay for Life with my family for the first time during the summer of 2010.  I had no idea how much that night would mean to me.  As I walked the track looking for the luminaries of those that I hold so dear to my heart, I was amazed and saddened by how many others I was unaware of that were fighting, were survivors, or had lost their battle to cancer. 

     I will remember forever how I felt watching my father, Paul; my sister-in-law’s brother, Noah; and my friend Ginny walk the survivors lap together.  What a mix of emotions.  My heart was full of hope because they were survivors. I was so happy and thankful that they were there with us that night.   I was also filled with sadness because I had grieved with a friend that had lost her father just months before, and wondered about the pain she had to be feeling as she watched the survivors.  How I wish her father could have been there that night with her.  I also remember praying for Ginny, asking the Lord to let her be a part of the survivors lap during the summer of 2011, but the Lord had different plans.  On September 10th of this year Ginny passed away.  She taught me so very much. I miss her everyday and will cherish the memories I have forever.  What a blessing she was to all who knew her.

     Cancer has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  It took my grandparents from me way too early and now my friend.  As a child I did not know just how horrible cancer was.  In my mind, the doctors would take care of it. That’s what they did for my Dad; they just cut it out and he was good to go… so I thought.   I’m so glad at that young age I did not know just how serious it was. I never want my children to have to feel how I have felt over the years losing my grandparents, watching my friends grieve the loss of their fathers, and more so during the past couple of months having to say goodbye to my friend who had fought so hard for so long. For this reason, I’m so very thankful for the innocence of youth.  As an adult after losing a friend at such a young age, I hear the word cancer and my heart breaks.  I now know the heartache that so many are feeling.  I hurt for those who are just discovering they have cancer.  I hurt for those who have won their battle, but fear its return. I hurt for those who fight each day and do all that they can in order to survive. I hurt for those who have had to watch a loved one suffer and then lose that loved one. I hurt for those who have not yet been diagnosed, and have no idea how their life will be changed forever.  I walk so that the hurt that comes with cancer will one day be a thing of the past. 

    

Christine Amestoy

October 18, 2010

I will never be able to erase the look on my son's face from my memory when I walked into the exam room and he said, "Mom, I have cancer." Even though he was a 26-year-old man, he looked like a very scared little boy. 

I had watched my father die of colon cancer three and a half years before this, so the fear I felt was almost unbearable. 

It was hard to watch my father go through this, but now that this was my child - the playing field had changed. 

As a family, we stayed strong and encouraged him through the surgery and three months of chemo. 

I am very grateful to God that I still have my son, but I will forever carry with me the memory of the look on his face. That is why I relay. 

Every year I see the smile on his face as he walks the Survivor's lap, I am overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness. 

When I go out and fund-raise for Relay for Life, I always tell people I am a mother on a mission!!

I have lost many important people in my life to cancer, I relay in their honor. 

I have watched my son be saved because of the progress they have made against cancer, so I also relay out of thankfulness. 

But the main reason I relay is in the hopes that someday, no mother will have to see that look on their child's face. 


~Roberta
10/8/2010