an experience I have to share - 05-24-2008 01:36 PM
Hi Friends,
It's been a while since my last post; I haven't forgotten my many friends here...life has just marched on, and living it fully has been taking up much more of my days.
I wanted to share with you a profound experience I had yesterday evening, all night long.
The Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life was held last night. While last years relay was held on a beautiful evening, this years event was less than kind, weather-wise. Steady rain, wind, and temperatures in the 40's. I joined over 200 survivors and nearly 3000 family, friends, other care-givers and generous people from all walks of life to walk, talk and share our experiences with the Beast.
It was a night filled with laughter and tears. We shared memories, victories and losses amidst the mud, the wind and the rain. My body is cold, tired and damp; my spirit soars. I lit luminaries for my Dad, Aunt and Uncle in their memory, and every lap that I completed I felt their presence, walking alongside. I handed out many, many OCF brochures; Oral cancer is still a mystery to many.
It was a special time to share with my wife, and my daughter; two of the most amazing women I've ever known. My wife...she stood beside me through every doctors visit, every surgery and radiation treatment. Held my head when I was sick, bathed me when I was too ill to wash my own face. She was at my side again last night.
My daughter, who at 22 has the wisdom of someone many years her senior. She was in Shanghai on business, flew 17 hours to get home with just enough time to drop her suitcase, change clothes and rush over to the start of the Relay. 12 hours and many Red-bulls later, we walked the last lap together. My Segway batteries were exhausted two hours earlier; I know I covered 40 km before I had to start walking. Our pace certainly slowed down at that point; I just can't walk very well any more.
I'm writing this before getting some sleep. I've got dry clothes on now, and I'm sure I'll warm up before the weekends over ;^)
I'm so proud of my family, and our success. We raised more than $5000 in pledges for the Relay. The total amount raised should exceed $1,000,000, and the vast majority of that will go to the Tom Baker cancer centre here in Calgary to further the battle with the Beast. It was a good night...........
Wayne
It's been a while since my last post; I haven't forgotten my many friends here...life has just marched on, and living it fully has been taking up much more of my days.
I wanted to share with you a profound experience I had yesterday evening, all night long.
The Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life was held last night. While last years relay was held on a beautiful evening, this years event was less than kind, weather-wise. Steady rain, wind, and temperatures in the 40's. I joined over 200 survivors and nearly 3000 family, friends, other care-givers and generous people from all walks of life to walk, talk and share our experiences with the Beast.
It was a night filled with laughter and tears. We shared memories, victories and losses amidst the mud, the wind and the rain. My body is cold, tired and damp; my spirit soars. I lit luminaries for my Dad, Aunt and Uncle in their memory, and every lap that I completed I felt their presence, walking alongside. I handed out many, many OCF brochures; Oral cancer is still a mystery to many.
It was a special time to share with my wife, and my daughter; two of the most amazing women I've ever known. My wife...she stood beside me through every doctors visit, every surgery and radiation treatment. Held my head when I was sick, bathed me when I was too ill to wash my own face. She was at my side again last night.
My daughter, who at 22 has the wisdom of someone many years her senior. She was in Shanghai on business, flew 17 hours to get home with just enough time to drop her suitcase, change clothes and rush over to the start of the Relay. 12 hours and many Red-bulls later, we walked the last lap together. My Segway batteries were exhausted two hours earlier; I know I covered 40 km before I had to start walking. Our pace certainly slowed down at that point; I just can't walk very well any more.
I'm writing this before getting some sleep. I've got dry clothes on now, and I'm sure I'll warm up before the weekends over ;^)
I'm so proud of my family, and our success. We raised more than $5000 in pledges for the Relay. The total amount raised should exceed $1,000,000, and the vast majority of that will go to the Tom Baker cancer centre here in Calgary to further the battle with the Beast. It was a good night...........
Wayne