Relay for Life

This weekend past Fred and I participated in a 24 hour fund raiser for the American Cancer Society.  Thanks to the many friends and family that donated to the cause and hopefully to a cure for one of your loved ones.  The relay takes place all over the USA, typically in a community center track, but the fun part is they make it a day to remember.

Camping out for the relay teams is permitted, so we took the excuse to do our first camping trip of the year.

 No luxury spared, we insisted on the inflatable bed to sleep on.

Saturday morning, 10am the relay kicked off.  It is all quite formal, opening ceremony began with a lead off from some very important looking people. 

I got to walk with the Survivor's who led the first lap.  I have to admit it was way more emotional than I expected and I got to meet some fellow teams - and made some new friends.

We participated on the relay team of the Gyalway Gyatso Buddhist center, John's spiritual center.  

By mid morning it had settled into a comfortable pace with Merie, Trish, Fred,  Debbie Lee and myself doing a lot of  laps.  It is so social that you really don't feel the time go by - nor the blisters form

Mid afternoon - the heat is over 90+ degrees (33 for you celcians).  A little R&R for the team while others took their turn.

Starting to feel like Woodstock.  Note the elevated, bare feet of Merie.

Elevated view of half the field, lots of activities, people offering free hugs, cowboys walking counter clockwise, kids selling cookies to raise money, giant jenga games, chinese egg rolls, crazy hat laps ........

Twilight, time to lite the glow bracelets and prepare for the night. 

Merie and Debbie share a Tonic and G?? (but don't tell the team captain - no alcohol rule)

The Luminara was probably the most touching part of the evening, a candle was lit for every lost family member who had been honored by one of the 41 teams.  Sadly, there was enough candles to line both sides of a quarter mile track.  There was on out there for the Nurse.

People decorated the Luminara (lunch bags) in different ways to honor their family.

Late night and way past Tinkers bed time.  

Some quiet meditation from John at the Buddhist tent.

Early morning, with little sleep (except Fred who slept through all the noise).  Back on the trail.

The final lap.  Estimated distance walked 30 miles.  Number of blisters 5.  Next year we plan to count the laps.