2004 Shoals Area

Relay For Life

It was a cloudy, dreary day for this years Relay For Life.  We arrived a little before 5:00 PM, registered and went inside.  We waited until they brought the food out, and then the line began to move, and we got our food, sat down and ate it.   Afterwards, we got our purple balloons and stepped outside to watch the entertainment.  At 7:00 PM, the MC asked all of the Survivors to line up on the track for the Survivors Lap (the 1st lap of the Relay).  Dorothy and I got in the line, and the MC asked everyone to begin walking the lap.  Since I have COPD, and am on oxygen 24/7, I knew that it would be a rough walk for me, but with Dorothy at my side, we began.  I was carrying my ten pound shoulder bag with my oxygen tank in it on my shoulder.  "What a Wonderful Day!" was being sung by the people on the stage while the Survivors walked.  The entire audience applauded as the Survivors passed them during the entire lap. When Dorothy and I got to the half way point, I had to stop to rest for four or five minutes.  I couldn't go any further.  After resting, we continued our walk.  As we neared the finish line, I told Dorothy "I'm gonna make it!".  I was gasping for breath as we reached the end of the lap, but I made it!!!   It was the furthest that I've walked in years, but I was absolutely determined to walk the entire Survivors Lap.  At the MC's voice announcement, we all let our balloons go.  They drifted up, up, and away until they rose into the cloudy sky.

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Standing in line for the food.   More good food for the Cancer Suvivors and their families. 

 Stage with the band.   Dorothy standing on the track. 

 Milner-Rushing Drug booth.   Helen Keller Hospital booth. 

 Fun for the kiddies.   View from one side of the track to the other.

   American HomePatient booth. L to R Miranda, Jennifer, Connie.   L TO R: Connie, Ted, Dorothy, Miranda

   Here I am, wearing my Survivors t-shirt and holding my balloon.   Dorothy and Ted.

   View from one side of the track to the other side.   Beth (with Elvis) at the Blood and Cancer Center Booth.

   "Elvis" on stage with the band.   "Elvis" singing to the audience.

         Luminaries border the track during the Survivor's Lap.   Survivors Walk      

         Letting the balloons go at the end of the Survivor's Lap.   There go the balloons, almost out of sight.      

What A Wonderful Day!

The clear ribbon with gold trim represents Lung cancer victims.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women.

More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers

combined.  Lung cancer is fairly rare in people under the age of 40.  The

average age of people found to have lung cancer is 60.  In 2004 there

will be about 173,770 new cases of lung cancer in the United States:

93,110 among men and 80,660 among women.  About 160,440 people

will die of this disease: 91,930 men and 68,510 women.

Front of Survivor's t-shirt with Medallion.   Cancer Suvivor's Medallion

 

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