(BTW Dad, did you notice you had your survivor shirt on backwards or was that intentional?) My brother Phil and his son Charlie were also in Minnesota this week for a visit, so Phil got to share his cancer survivor story also. It's probably one of the few times (if not the only time!) there's been a father/son presentation at this event.
Phil looks good doesn't he? It's hard to believe that only about 10 weeks ago he was in the Sutter Cancer Center in California having his bone marrow transplant.After the tea, all of the cancer survivors were invited to take one of the balloons hanging from the ceiling in the presentation hall for a special balloon release celebration (that's what those white strings are hanging down by Dad and Phil's heads at the podium)
It was an overcast and drizzly afternoon, but the balloons didn't mind. What a pretty sight!
The actual relay part of this Relay for Life was scheduled to start around 6 PM with events for participants continuing until 6 AM tomorrow morning. As an additional fundraiser for the event, people could purchase luminarias in memory or in honor of a cancer survivor. Down this 2-block stretch of town, there were already 4 rows (thousands!) of luminarias already set up and I saw a cart carrying hundreds more still to be placed.
There's rain in the forecast for all of tonight, but I hope it holds off until they get all of these luminarias lit. It will be quite a spectacular thing to behold.
It was an overcast and drizzly afternoon, but the balloons didn't mind. What a pretty sight!
The actual relay part of this Relay for Life was scheduled to start around 6 PM with events for participants continuing until 6 AM tomorrow morning. As an additional fundraiser for the event, people could purchase luminarias in memory or in honor of a cancer survivor. Down this 2-block stretch of town, there were already 4 rows (thousands!) of luminarias already set up and I saw a cart carrying hundreds more still to be placed.
There's rain in the forecast for all of tonight, but I hope it holds off until they get all of these luminarias lit. It will be quite a spectacular thing to behold.From all the people who spoke at this event, there were several common themes mentioned that helped them to become cancer survivors: Hope, Positive Attitude, Caring People, and Prayers. That's something each of us can provide (without cost) to any person we know who's battling cancer. Of course, the doctors and medical care are also an integral part to cancer survival, but without the hope, positive attitude, caring people and prayers, I don't believe my dad and brother would be standing here today sharing their survivor stories.
I thank all of you, dear blog readers, for your prayers during my brother's bone marrow transplant and recovery.
