Relay For Life

Cancer. It is a word that is scary to anyone who hears it come from their Doctors mouth. My family has had it's share of Cancer. My Grandfather (Dad's Dad) passed away from Cancer in 1988. My Mom's Dad ("Paw Paw") was diagnosed with cancer of the brain in 2005. With the help of the Good Lord above, and modern medicine, he has been cancer free for 6 years. I had heard of the Relay For Life for several years, and seen the large crowd it drew to Oxford High School Stadium. It wasn't until my Junior year of High School, that I ever attended the event. That year, I was a member of the Key Club. Me and several other members/friends help to set it up. You know, from just attending the event, you wouldn't think too much work goes into it. But that year, I learned different.  We arrived around 3:00, and begin helping pour oil into the Torch Luminaries. But when we got done, I believe we  had more on our hands then went into the torch bottles. lol Then we rode on the back of a small truck, sitting bag lumanaries around the football stadium. We then begin placing the bags in the stands on the guest side, and later helped to form the HOPE CURE you see in the Picture above. The fun part came when we begin lighting the luminaries. I believe I only set one bag on fire. But, I can't say that for my friends. lol I do beleive it was after this year, they begin using Light Sticks. After all the hard work was over, we got to sit around and chat, and one friend even drove over to Taco Bell and some of us ate Taco's. I got to meet some new people that year. However, we lost contact soon afterward.. This was also the first year my Paw Paw Roy (Dad's Dad) had an "In Memory Of" Luminarie, and my Paw Paw had an "In Honor Of" Luminarie. The Relay For Life has out growed the Oxford High School stadium, and is now held at the Soccer Fields on the old Ft. McClellan  Base.