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Cancer Walk
Sep. 20th, 2008 10:38 pmToday was the annual Walk to Fight Cancer in Plymouth and I finally had the opportunity to participate. I walked for the PSU Gaming Club with Megan and had a great time. I was right up front when the walk started at noon and stayed until 9:30 pm (about half an hour before the end). I actually ended up walking most of the time, though I did take some breaks and even spent some time playing quasi-soccer with the Gaming Club folks. Some of the club members were there to run games for the kids, so that was cool.
I bought a luminary for my cousin Rose and walked in memory of her especially, but also my Nana. Rose died of cancer when we were 16. She was such a wonderful and warm person, who remained very positive through everything right up until the end and kept a smile on her face and a good sense of humor about it all. I remember her joking around about her lack of hair after it all fell out from the chemotherapy. She passed away at home among family and friends. I remember the night she passed. I was a junior in high school and it was my first year working as a nurses' aide. I had just left my shift at work and drove from Nashua to Wilton to be there with our family. I walked in, stopped by her bed and said hello and let her know I was there (by this time she was in a coma, but we still talked to her). I walked away to spend time with the family and that was when she passed away. At the end of the walk I made sure to grab her luminary so I can give it to my aunt and uncle.
It was really quite an experience to walk among all the lit luminaries at night and to see the luminaries set up on the bleachers to spell out HOPE. I had seen photos from previous years but it's never quite the same as being there and experiencing it.
I got to listen to my friend Jim play with his band while I walked for part of the afternoon, and took a couple of breaks to stop and sit and listen. We had some nice conversation before he had to take off for another gig at Shooters. I also really enjoyed spending time having conversation with others there about their loved ones that experienced cancer, sharing stories and learning about some important people in the lives of people that I knew at varying levels of familiarity.
The money raised from this event goes to local people struggling with cancer. I think that's what makes this event so great. A lot of times we end up giving time or money to an event or cause, and we never know what happens with our contributions. With this cause we know it's going to local people. You get to see not only the success of the event in the short term by how many people participate and contribute, but also in the longer term in the way local people benefit from their assistance. It was especially great to hear the short speech at the beginning of the walk from one of the survivors they helped, and also to have a conversation with someone I know from church whose wife didn't survive but was also helped by the organization hosting the event. That aspect in particular gave me the most hope.
I bought a luminary for my cousin Rose and walked in memory of her especially, but also my Nana. Rose died of cancer when we were 16. She was such a wonderful and warm person, who remained very positive through everything right up until the end and kept a smile on her face and a good sense of humor about it all. I remember her joking around about her lack of hair after it all fell out from the chemotherapy. She passed away at home among family and friends. I remember the night she passed. I was a junior in high school and it was my first year working as a nurses' aide. I had just left my shift at work and drove from Nashua to Wilton to be there with our family. I walked in, stopped by her bed and said hello and let her know I was there (by this time she was in a coma, but we still talked to her). I walked away to spend time with the family and that was when she passed away. At the end of the walk I made sure to grab her luminary so I can give it to my aunt and uncle.
It was really quite an experience to walk among all the lit luminaries at night and to see the luminaries set up on the bleachers to spell out HOPE. I had seen photos from previous years but it's never quite the same as being there and experiencing it.
I got to listen to my friend Jim play with his band while I walked for part of the afternoon, and took a couple of breaks to stop and sit and listen. We had some nice conversation before he had to take off for another gig at Shooters. I also really enjoyed spending time having conversation with others there about their loved ones that experienced cancer, sharing stories and learning about some important people in the lives of people that I knew at varying levels of familiarity.
The money raised from this event goes to local people struggling with cancer. I think that's what makes this event so great. A lot of times we end up giving time or money to an event or cause, and we never know what happens with our contributions. With this cause we know it's going to local people. You get to see not only the success of the event in the short term by how many people participate and contribute, but also in the longer term in the way local people benefit from their assistance. It was especially great to hear the short speech at the beginning of the walk from one of the survivors they helped, and also to have a conversation with someone I know from church whose wife didn't survive but was also helped by the organization hosting the event. That aspect in particular gave me the most hope.
