Letter: Relay for Life Approaching; Time to Fight Back

Relay For Life is an overnight event to “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.”  

The event celebrates the lives of those who have had cancer, remembers loved ones lost to the disease and rallies individuals to fight back against a disease that takes too much. Teams raise funds, before and during the event, to fight cancer. Because cancer never sleeps, neither do we. We start at 6 p.m. and go to 6 a.m. June 22-23 at  

Here are a couple stories about why people relay:

Early this year, my 5-year-old daughter experienced the loss of a friend(Kylie) and classmate from cancer.  The class had only five children in it... so it impacted the children directly. Mrs. Beth, the teacher, and I approached Kylie's mom, asking to create a team in Kylie's honor. We feel it will help the children heal, promote a positive memory association with Kylie's passing, and reinforce a sense of community and empowerment.  

Dana Rickard, Aurora,

My whole family is walking in Relay for Life on Team Gibson.  Vicky Gibson is a great Oswego mom who was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer a couple of years ago.  She was open and honest about what she was going through, chemo by chemo, radiation by radiation.  Along with sharing her thoughts and feelings, she shared her family with us.  We helped out when we could but the unshakable faith and love emanating from the entire Gibson Family was a gift they gave us.  Vicky, John, Tyler and Myranda are so special.  Walking is the least we can do!

Today, Vicky is 10 months out from her last treatment and has four inches of hair! 

The Vann Family, Oswego

For more information, to start or join a team, or to make a donation, please contact the American Cancer Society local office at 630-879-9009 or visit www.RelayForLife.org/OSMOIL

Rob Blodgett, 2012 Oswego Montgomery Relay Planning Committee