My Relay for Life

How I first became involved...

My first year of college, at Mizzou in Columbia, Missouri, I worked for an organization called Jumpstart.  A few co-workers and myself created a team.  At this time, I had never heard of Relay For Life.  My life hadn't been personally touched by cancer but I quickly came to love this event.  My first Luminaria Ceremony touched me so deeply that I knew this was something I wanted to continue to do every year.  The following year, April 2005, I again with my co-workers at Jumpstart, participated in Relay For Life.

The start of Melzie's Warriors and my first Relay as a Survivor...

As fate would have it, the following February, in 2006, I was diagnosed with cancer.  My best friends and siblings quickly threw together a team, Melzie's Warriors, in my honor.  Although I had underwent a very intense surgery, I was determined to attend this Relay For Life.  It now held a very significant meaning to me and I didn't want to skip a year of Relay.  My mother was hesitant to let me attend.  I had moved home to have the surgery, recover, and be near my doctors in preparation for my next step, radiation.  Mizzou would be a two hour commute and at the time, the only place I had driven to was the hospital and back to my house.  The short 40 minute car ride to the hospital always caused me to be in excruciating pain from the bumps in the road.  How would I withstand a two hour drive on a highway that had less than decent roads?  But I was determined to go and with my doctor's blessing (and knowing I'd miss an overnight feeding through my feeding tube), my mother agreed.  With the help of a pillow to brace my stomach, we headed off to Columbia.

I arrived at Stankowski Field for Relay for Life.  They called for the Survivors and their Caregivers to get ready for the Survivor Lap.  I remember being filled with so many emotions.  The previous two years, I stood on the sidelines, cheering the survivors on, tears in my eyes.  Admiring how incredibly strong they were and sympathy for all they've had to endure.  And now here I was.  Getting those same smiles of admiration and tears of sadness from the bystanders.  I remember wondering, in the back of my mind, if I would be here next year to walk in this Survivor Lap?  Or would my family and friends be walking in my memory?  

I managed to walk the Survivor Lap but after that, I had to sit down.  I had more friends than I ever imagined there supporting me and our team.  Having lived in the dorms with the football team, we had many Mizzou football players come out to support me.  They let small children (who saw them as celebrities) pie them in the face and take photos with them for donations.  I had so many co-workers from Jumpstart there.  Of course my best friends and family were there as well.  I have never felt so loved or so much support.  I even had friends from out of town travel in for this event.  It meant the world to me.

Unfortunately, I didn't last long.  As night set in, the temperature dropped.  Being only about 110 pounds, I was shivering and freezing.  The shivering was causing immense pain in my already sore abdomen.  My feeding tube site was burning.  Mom suggested we head back to my duplex and I agreed.  I thanked everyone and we went home.  Upon arriving back at my place, we learned my feeding tube had begun pussing and was red.  I had pushed myself too far, but I didn't care.  I was so happy I was able to attend this Relay For Life.  I am so grateful for my siblings and best friends who created and threw together Melzie's Warriors on such late notice.

The following years...

Melzie's Warriors continued throughout the years.  The next year, April 2007, I joined my siblings and friends in creating our team and being a Team Captain.  That year, we had a team of over 30 members, the largest at Mizzou's Relay that year and raising the most money.  Our campsite was Mario Brother's themed and we had so many compliments.  Our games, decor, prizes, and overall site where a favorite of everyone's.  The local news station set up their equipment on our campsite and featured our site and team!  I was happy to be there, able to say I was now officially in remission, and officially a Survivor.  I was happy to walk the Survivor Lap with my mother as my Caregiver, because I honestly wouldn't be alive if it were not for her.  But most of all, I was happy for the incredible amount of people who came out to join Melzie's Warriors.  So grateful for their love, support, and donations to Melzie's Warriors for the American Cancer Society.

April 2008 was my favorite year for Melzie's Warriors.  This year, my roommates and I were all on the Committee.  I felt honored to be chosen to be behind the scenes and making this amazing event possible.  My siblings, friends, and myself also continued to be Team Captains of Melzie's Warriors.  I, along with my mother, were chosen to cut the ribbon to lead the Survivor Lap.

During the ceremony, my mother was the speaker for the Fight Back Ceremony.  Even though she is very shy and public speaking is not her forte, she got up on stage in front of hundreds of people and told our story.

I graduated from Mizzou in 2008 but my family and I continued to go back to Mizzou the next few years and carry on Melzie's Warriors.
Sadly, in 2011, I married and moved away from Missouri.  However, my husband and I always found the local Relay For Life where were living and participated in the event, walking the Survivor Lap, donating to various teams, buying Luminarias, and staying for the Luminaria Ceremony.

In November 2013, just two weeks after moving to Jacksonville, Florida, I was offered a job on staff with the American Cancer Society working as  Relay For Life Specialist.  I am responsible for four different Relays here in the Jacksonville area.  My job is very stressful but my heart has never been more full than doing what I do now.  Helping to end the fight against cancer and working closely with those affected by the disease have been my dream job since my own diagnosis, and now, I'm doing just that.  

She spoke about her role as my Caregiver and why it's important that we all fight back.  She is not at all like my siblings and I.  She's an introvert and this took a lot of courage for her to speak in from these thousands of people.  But she did an amazing job!

This year, we were also one of the largest teams and the second top grossing team (just behind a team of two Mizzou professors that are cancer survivors.)  I have so many amazing memories from this year and I'm thankful again for the love and support.  Sadly, this was my last year for Mizzou's Relay for Life as a student.

The following years, I continued to attend and carry on Melzie's Warriors at Mizzou's Relay for Life.  Sadly, Relay for Life 2011 was my last year.  The following April (2012), I was enjoying newlywed life in Pensacola, Florida.  My husband was stationed there, going through flight school training to become an aviator for the United States Navy.  We tried to carry on the tradition of Melzie's Warriors there, but no one was dedicated enough fully participate.  There just wasn't any way Nicholas and I could carry on our team by ourselves for those 12+ hours.  But we still attended Relay for Life, donating money to various teams as we walked a few laps.  Nicholas bought a luminaria for me and we of course stayed for the Luminaria Service.

We continued this same involvement in Relay for Life in Pensacola in 2013 participating in not only the Pensacola Beach Relay for Life but also in the Milton Relay for Life.

Shortly after Relay for Life this past year, my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer.  I became his cancer buddy and we created a goal for him to walk with me in a St. Louis Relay for Life.  I envisioned holding his hand, walking together in the Survivor Lap.  Unfortunately, this vision would never become reality.  On August 18, 2013, my hero traded his cape for wings.  Grandpa lost his battle.  It has been the hardest thing I have ever experienced and I miss him more than words could ever express.  Now, more than ever, I am determined to fight for a cure.  I still plan to fly home to participate in Relay for Life and I will walk the Survivor Lap for myself, but also in memory of Grandpa, who was taken from this world too soon.  Now, more than ever, I dedicate a life to oncology, in any and every way I can.

This year, I will participate in Relay For Life without him.  I know it will difficult to participate and walk, knowing that Grandpa should be alongside us, as he was in previous years. But I know he'll be walking that Survivor Lap with me, holding my hand.

After nine years volunteering the Relay For Life, I'm happy to say that I am now in my dream career of being on staff at the American Cancer Society working with Relay For Life.  I'm finally making a difference.  I'm connecting with other survivors.  I'm fighting to find a cure.  And my heart has never felt more full.