Relay for Life 2011

Relay for Life

Every year I partake in Relay for Life at Marist College for many reasons. Yes, it is simple to partake in while almost everyone at school gets involved in it, but it does mean a lot to me. A significant amount of people in my life have been affected by this disease and has definitely changed me as an individual. Almost everyone knows at least one person who has or has had cancer. In our current day society it seems as though more and more people are battling cancer more than ever.

As many people know my mom battled breast cancer during my junior year of high school. I remember the day I found out as if it were just yesterday. She went through surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation throughout the span of a year and ended up conquering her battle with breast cancer. I was so lucky. To this day I am so blessed to still have my mother, my best friend, the one who knows me best,  alive to celebrate more birthdays and memories. You see, that’s the new theme.. “Let’s celebrate more birthdays” as Celine Dion puts it in her new campaign advertisement. As cheesy as it sounds, its true.

Even though junior year was the toughest year in my life thus far, I know it shaped the person I am today. It has shaped how socially conscious I am, how understanding I am, and how easy it is for me to conquer simple everyday issues. Many may say the most difficult year of high school academically is junior year, but during this year I made the most out of it and accomplished a lot of positive projects. I earned my Girl Scout Gold Award during this year. Even with my mother’s illness I took charge of what I needed to get done. I may have been terrified for my mother’s life, but I lived everyday to the fullest and wanted to accomplish this project and make her proud for what I had done.

So if you could help me in accomplishing my team’s goal of raising $2,000 this year I would be so grateful! CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Thank you,

Melissa