My journey to 70 laps: Relay For Life 2016

Cancer affects people in different ways but for some it hits home with greater meaning. It’s not easy to cope with tragedy, but if anything it rallies people together to achieve one common goal: to find an end to this tragic disease.

Similar to others, my family understands the concept of tragedy but it has made us stronger for the better. My family has always taught me to give back to others whether it be through volunteer work or a small donation, but nonetheless I learned the importance that if the goal is important enough, there is a way to make it happen.

My goal is to try and find at least one event per year to help give my time to those who are currently struggling in one form or another, and when the  American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life came to Eugene, I knew it was an opportunity for me to help make a difference. Without hesitation, I signed up in the hope I would find the guts to stay up way past my normal bedtime into the early morning and keep walking even if my legs felt like they were going to come apart. But then again, it is for a good cause so why was I questioning myself?

Once I signed up I knew the next step was to try and find a team to be part of that would make a collective effort to fund raise. While I was in the midst of my search, my friend Jordan happened to bring up how she was part of a team and how she had set a goal for herself to walk 70 laps that night, but all I knew was that she was signed up and part of a team.

Unlike some people who deemed that number so called ‘nuts’,  I decided that I would join her in her quest towards her goal. I was committed – I was going to do this.

Dozens of groups volunteered their booths in support of Relay for Life

Upon joining my friend on achieving her goal, I did not think to do any training beforehand, rather show up on race day ready to walk 70 loops around a track with endless karaoke and games in the background. However, when we arrived the momentum completely changed: stepping on the track gave me a sense of purpose, and I was reminded that I was walking not only for my own physical well-being, but for standing with others to support those currently fighting and remember those who have passed from the terrible disease.

Jordan (left) and I after we completed 70 laps around the track

While it took us a while to get warmed up, on about our 10th lap we started jogging. My legs were getting sore, but I couldn’t stop thinking of my family and those who are fighting a more intense type of pain that wasn’t just soreness . Even though I felt trapped in my own thoughts, I kept pushing forward – this goal was not only important to Jordan but it had also become close to my heart.

After our 35th lap we took a break and I finally got to sit down and reflected on what I was doing. Yes, jogging every few laps or so was tiring but it felt like I was running for something bigger, that it was for more than just me. I felt as if I was pushing for millions of people that I didn’t know, that they were counting on me in some way to keep my word. I had to fight through the soreness just like they fight everyday.

At midnight was the luminary ceremony where people could donate $5 to make a bag and light a fake candle to line the field with in memory of a loved one. Maybe it was something about the emotions of the people surrounding me, or the peacefulness of the scene but it seemed to sum up what that night was really all about: hope.

After the moment of silence, the crowd resumed walking around the track lit with the luminaries and it occurred to me that all participants were in it to support one other, which made it all the more worth it. Once we resumed our walking, Jordan and I kept going in circles until we hit 70 laps and with us being that close to the finish we didn’t stop the rest of the night.

At 2:47 am on Sunday May 15 we finished with 13 miles and 70 laps and neither of us could be any happier. Not only did we fulfill our goal, but we also left satisfied that we helped take a step towards curing a deathly disease that affects millions of people each year. This event truly showed that while money is important, it is the teamwork put into accomplishing the goal that counts.

2:47 am when we turned the corner for the final time on our 70th lap

Together, we can do anything.