Relay For Life

What an AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING experience!! It’s so hard to put in words how I felt and how the entire 18 hours went. I knew it was going to be an emotional experience for sure. I met so many wonderful people and heard some really great survivor stories. The opening ceremonies included a survivor that made me tear up the minute she mentioned she had a 2 year old and is going through breast cancer as we speak. I can’t even imagine! She shared how difficult it has been but how she has also grown in the experience and how staying positive is the only way to go. Her story made me realize why I was there and why I signed up to walk for this event. Our team consisted of 13 girls and one guy. The way it worked was you could walk as much as you wanted but at least one member from your team needed be on the track at all times. My friend Maranda and I signed up for a 10K, way back in January but we decided at last minute (3 weeks before the Relay) to support this event instead. We had a goal of at least walking our 10K and anything extra would be great. We were able to walk/run the 10K within the 1st hour and half! We decided to go for another one and reached that but started to get pretty sore. We both stopped at one point to stretch and the conversation we had I’ll never forget. We asked each other why we were there and we thought about each and every cancer patient that currently is battling with the disease or who had won or lost the battle and we said this is one night where we can push ourselves harder than ever. Cancer patients don’t get the option to give up when they are in pain or when it’s raining so we pushed on! We decided to walk until we physically couldn’t. We didn’t sleep one ounce. We walked, walked, jogged a little, walked, walked and walked. Maranda and I ended up completing 23 miles! I walked my heart out for my Father in Law, my mom who I love so much, Grandpa Weeks and Mary Potier’s Mother who is currently battling with lung cancer. Our team raised $1500 and the entire Arlington group raised over $225,000 which was more than any rookie Relay team has ever raised before. I’m planning on doing this again next year and can’t wait. I’m so happy we decided to this instead of the 10K. I hope and pray that the money we raised will help save many lives!!

I have to say thank you so much to Rory for all his encouragement and support. Love you honey!! And to Maranda, my sidekick the entire evening. You know it’s true friendship when you can spend almost 24 hours with someone! Love ya girly!

Thank you to everyone for your generous donations and all your support!!

Right before entering the high school

Opening Ceremonies


Survivors Lap. So neat!!

Abby loves these girls!!

Family Lap

Shout out to Curtis!! :)

I was so happy it was in Arlington because we were able to hang with some of the on duty Arlington officers as well as the ones working OT for the event. Thanks for chatting and keeping us awake!! :)

The Goolsby's

Luminary for Papa Rick

Luminaries spelling out hope. Awesome!

Maranda's friend Brittany. A new friend
to me now! :)

Too cute!

Our team!

Our area

Walking into the night!

Carla came to visit me and walk some
laps with me. Thank you again Carla!! :)

Our captain, Shannon

Getting very, very sleepy..........

23 miles done....woo-hoo!

The firemen cooked us breakfast

You can't tell how sore we are...oh but we were!! :)

This lady got 2 standing ovations.
Opening and closing ceremonies!
Battling cancer as we speak! ):

The entire crew that put on Relay for Life