Our Reasons to Relay: 2012

It's no secret that we are avid cancer fighters through Relay For Life.  The American Cancer Society is the single largest non-governmental funder of cancer research in the world...for all cancers, not just one type.

With the two latest Nobel Prizes recently awarded, 46 ACS-funded researchers have gone on to win the Nobel Prize for the research and developments. 

And Relay For Life is a huge part of that.  Now the largest health-related fundraiser in the world (started right here in Tacoma!)...it is a worldwide movement to end cancer.  I have been so blessed to be able to chair the event in Tacoma (check this out -- the 20th anniversary video was subtitled by someone to Japanese!  "Shelley Mauss" is in Japanese!), to captain 3 top nationwide teams (raising more than $50,000 in a single season), to Relay in Canada and Europe, and to help train others how to fight back against cancer. 

But my very favorite moments in Relay revolve around my family -- Jonathan, the boys, my dad -- as a survivor, and Jonathan's mom -- who we lost. 

This video sums it up. 

And if you feel so inclined, anything you'd like to donate to push us closer to our $10,000 goal would be so appreciated!  :) 

It's time to Relay!

The morning craziness of packing, checking off the list of things to bring, things to pick up on the way, and making sure everything is dotted and crossed.  Picked up extra sunscreen last night, new sippy cups for the Wee Ski, and a little navy baseball hat for him.

Our grand club shirts arrived yesterday as a surprise from Janell, and we can't wait to wear them on Saturday!  Friday night is all navy & white for our team, decked out in navy & white baseball jerseys. 

Finian Road designed the baseball logo, which adorns our tee and sweet surprise banners for Jim and his family.  Saturday, we'll have our Grand Club shirts on, celebrating that nearly every member of our team has raised more than $1000 each. 

Thomas and I will be spend a few hours away tomorrow morning for the funeral Mass for Dick "Snappy" McEntee, and then will head right back to the Relay.  We will be Relaying especially for their family this weekend.

Below is the team tee back (designed several weeks ago) -- listing the names of everyone our team is Relaying for this year. 

We added a special "Connolly's Crew" line above everything on all our tees, to celebrate Jim and his battle right now.



Our team total is $42,189.24 right now -- and the Skis are just $45 shy of $10,000 as a family.
 
The support we've had from our family and friends has been nothing short of amazing. If you haven't viewed our team video and invite for tonight, you can do that right here!  It's short and sweet and to the point, I promise. 

We are creating a world with more birthdays and less deaths from cancer. 

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

You can track our progress as a team right here.  And there's any chance you have a few bucks handy to kick the Skis up closer to our $10,000 goal -- you can do that right here!  :)

It's time to celebrate, remember and fight back!

Why We Relay: 2010

We are in our last week before the Relay For Life.

Today's a bittersweet day as we prepare.

This year, we dedicated our involvement in Relay to four people special to our son (and to us).

• Our first reason is Jim Connolly -- who Thomas knows as Santa.  He's the "Connolly" of Connolly Tacon & Meserve, where Jonathan is an attorney.  He was diagnosed with kidney cancer in December 2009.
• Our second reason is Dick McEntee -- who is known as the grandpa of Thomas's BFF, Daniel.  Dick and his wife Kathy were the mentor couple to Jonathan and I as we prepared for marriage.  He was diagnosed with lung cancer in February.
• Our third reason is Fr. Terence Wager, OSB -- our priest at St. Columban in Yelm, and the priest who baptized Thomas.  He passed away from throat cancer in February.
• Our fourth reason is Thomas's Grandpa Mauss, also known as my dad.  He was diagnosed with skin cancer in March. 

We've been praying especially for Jim and Dick over the past few weeks -- as their journeys have become increasingly difficult.

Yesterday, Dick McEntee lost his battle with cancer.  He was welcomed to heaven after a peaceful death with his family by his side.  Though our hearts are sad, it gives us hope to know what an incredible welcoming reception he must have had, led by his wife Kathy.  She was an organizer extraordinaire.  :)

We prepare for Jim's celebration this Friday.  His most recent CT scan and X-ray show that he has a small new tumor on his left arm and he begins IV Toricel again each Thursday.  We hope that he will be able to join us for the Survivors Lap at 6 pm, and we will be bringing together his whole support group (affectionately called "Connolly's Crew") together for a special lap immediately following. 

One of the best parts of Relay For Life is that it truly gives you a chance to fight back.  In the midst of sadness, struggle, pain, relief and emotion.  We celebrate those who are fighting, remember those we've lost, and fight back together.

Through the work of the American Cancer Society, lives have been changed.

And though two of the reasons we Relay are no longer with us here on earth, we Relay so that Dick's grandchildren and Thomas and kids their age will be able to live in a world where cancer is not a death sentence.

And we are helping make that possible.

We sent out our first-ever fundraising letters to our family and friends this year.  The letter was written from Thomas. 

In case you wanted to read the Wee Ski's letter, here's a copy.  The backside of the card is below it.  





And the back of the card:




We are fighting back.

We love you, Dick.

Praying for the repose of your soul, and for the strength and peace of your amazing family still with us.

The Countdown to the 2010 Relay For Life: Crashing the Issaquah Relay

Two weeks ago, the Skis crashed the Relay For Life of Issaquah.  I've wanted to see this event for years -- but it's never worked out until now. 

I originally met Karen in the fall of 2003 -- at my very first Relay For Life Leadership Summit for our division.  We were in Anaheim, California...Brian was chairing the National Advisory Team and I was a 'first time Summiter'.  I was just glad to find a seat with nice people at the table.  Little did I know that Karen and I would become great friends over the years.  And that we would both rock in fundraising...she more than I.  :)

[Relay For Life Leadership Summit, Anaheim, CA  |  September 2003]

She and her husband, Dave, came down to the 20th Anniversary event that I was chairing...and we had to get this photo...after all, it was the last year that the Tacoma Relay would take place in Stadium Bowl. 

I loved seeing them Relay together -- as a couple who both "got it" and loved supporting one another in the process.  Gave me hope as well...since I had gotten dumped from a 2 year relationship the night before this event by someone who thought I spent "too much time at that thing".  Dumped by email.  With my family in Spain and nowhere nearby.  Pretty sure I never put that on the blog before. :)

Never realized that I would be proposed to three years later...at the same Relay.  :)  Little did I know how awesome Karen's husband was, or that he and my (future) husband would be so alike. And that they would ask to get together when she and I would be at the same trainings.

They're awesome people.

[Relay For Life of Tacoma's 20th Anniversary, Tacoma, WA  |  May 2004]
 
After the first year that our team hit $50,000, she heard me speaking about it in a breakout at Summit, and said, "our team can do that too."  And yes...they definitely could. 

Team Aloha, her family & friends team, propelled past $50,000 that next year and has stayed up above there ever since.  They are an incredibly unconventional team -- without formal meetings or anything that normal teams do -- but it works for them.  She Relays for her dad, who she lost to cancer years ago.  Her cousin is on the team -- Brent Johnson -- and he's an incredible fundraiser.  $40,000+ each year.  He simply asks everyone he knows to donate.  More than 700 asks a year.  So. incredibly. awesome.

So this event (in Issaquah) is their home event that they chair.  When we arrived, Dave was putting on the finishing touches to the Team Aloha tent site.  Surprised that they were setting up after the Relay started, he explained that a funnel cloud had touched down and pulled a number of tentsites up  -- just before the Relay started.  Can you imagine that?!?

Jonathan, Thomas and I had the chance to walk the Relay, meet her team, and hang out.  So much fun to see them in their element, and to be able to be part of such a fun event.  Warm sun, frozen tee contest, and lots of familiar faces. 

And I brought my camera.  To shoot for fun.  A few of my favorite shots...




Mohawk!!




Birthday cupcakes, sold site to site!


LOVED seeing Amy McGann, formerly of ACS, not at Overlake Hospital.  Her son wanted to stay all night at the event.   He was SO EXCITED.


The same "Team Asia" guys from this post.  They were hysterical. 




Karen and Dave, with the event behind them...


Thomas had a blast with their Team D chair.  He loved running around and playing everywhere.  And throwing his socks and shoes off, while doing laps.  Note to self: remember that for our Relay next week. 


Karen with her mom and cousin, Brent.  My fundraising idols.  :)


Karen...thanks not only for your friendship over the years, but for all you do to create a world with more birthdays.  You are loved!

The Countdown to the 2010 Relay For Life: Our team invite

The Relay is just 10 days away...

This year's event in Thurston County has a "Picture a Cure" / Hollywood theme...so we chose "Field of Dreams" for our movie theme.  Jim Connolly, for whom we are Relaying this year, is a huge baseball fan and has actually been to the Field of Dreams in Iowa.  We're in the midst of last minute tent site design stuff + logistics for a midnight movie of Field of Dreams.  Our sweet surprise for Jim just shipped via UPS (thank you, Finian Road!) and our team jerseys are at print right now. 

I was looking back through our wedding advice/guest book from our wedding, and found Jim's card to us:

"For my daughter's wedding, my toast was a baseball theme from Field of Dreams. 
My same to you -- "Go the distance!"

So...we are.  We're going the distance.  

We're inviting everyone we know to come down and experience Relay, especially on the Friday night.  Opening ceremonies begin at 6 pm, with the survivor lap immediately following.  We'll be pulling together everyone from CTM for the caregiver lap that follows -- but we've retitled it the Connolly's Crew Lap.  So much fun to celebrate Jim and show our support of him and his family.  If you are in the area, we'd love for you to join us.  Here's a helpful guide to the day of the event if you want to be part of Connolly's Crew.  :)

It's the first time (ever) that Thurston has had a true luminaria ceremony (thanks in big part to the Sticklands!!) and we are SO excited to see how it goes. 

Our team is at $33,239.91 -- at 89% of our $37,500 goal. We're almost there!  If you have a few extra bucks burning a hole in your pocket, you are welcome to donate them through our team!  :)  Here's the link!   A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated so far.  We so appreciate it!

And finally, here's a link to our promo invite for our team this year.  Click the button below to view it...just takes a minute or two!  :)

There's No Place Like Hope

It was an incredible experience.

I'm now just beginning to recover from the Relay...which happened to take place over a record-breaking temperature weekend. We thought we were warm on Friday, setting up in 85 degree weather...only to be sweltering on Saturday afternoon at 94 degrees! The Relay For Life actually closed down 3 hours early on Saturday due to the overflow into First Aid...which was an incredibly smart idea. It was pretty flipping hot!

For so many reasons...I loved this event. Among the main reasons...

• Our team. Connolly Tacon & Meserve. A first year team...and we raised more than $21,000...on our way to $22,000! The genuine enthusiasm from everyone at Jonathan's law firm was contagious. What else do I love? Every single attorney and staff member from their 19-person office spent time on the track. The Relay broke their goal of $330,000...and it was awesome. Oh, and not to beat a dead horse, but the accounting for our team's funds raised was dead-on. Whoo hoo!
• Our "Wizard of Oz" themed tent site. Thanks for the creative skills of Kathie, Cindy and Debbie, we had an Emerald City airbrushed backdrop (in purple, of course, designed by Debbie's son Aaron), scary purple lit trees, the scary flying monkeys with scary cancer facts (and how the American Cancer Society comes to the rescue), all the way down to a custom-painted yellow brick road. With spotlights at night lighting up the Emerald City...it was gorgeous. We were beyond blessed with their talents and support.
• Lap beads. Thanks, Sarah...with your help, we raised more than $750 by selling lap beads on the track! We met a ton of people...and this will definitely be a repeat-fundraiser next year!
• Having a grill and being able to eat wherever you wanted. I know a few people thought I was nuts at how excited I was by this...but after three years of being a "no food on the track Nazi" at Mt. Tahoma...I absolutely loved walking from tent site to tent site on the track...picking up lemon white chocolate chip cookies, lemonade, hot dogs and chips. We were also lucky recipients of Chuck's grill master skills...from brats and burgers to pancakes, eggs, and sausage early Saturday morning. Spoiled, yes. Not taking it for granted, you better believe it.
• The hometown feel of the event. Logistics (led by Jerry Gorman's husband Brian) was slammed with a huge challenge just two days before the Relay -- having to completely redesign the tent and Relay layout due to a late seeding of the grass on the field. They rose to the challenge and knocked the ball out of the park. Everyone went with the flow and it turned out beautifully. (I also said several "Thank You God"s that I wasn't on the committee. :) )
• The Loopholes. I genuinely adore team captains Steve and Gayle Lieberman. I believe we are among the top two teams at this year's Relay...and there was an incredible sense of friendly competition, a genuine graciousness in welcoming our team to the Relay, and a great sense of community between our two teams. Many people from both teams are planning to schedule laps together next year. I love that.
• The Brownrices. Rich, currently fighting prostate cancer, immediately stepped up to the plate when asked to assist with the event set up. He brought his grandson, Parker, down to help out on Friday, and the rest of the crew arrived that night for their time on the track. Felt just like home.

Onto a few of my favorite photos...more to come in our team thank you video! :)

How can you not love Rosebud in the Survivors' Lap?

Jim Connolly and Gayle Lieberman (of the Loopholes) -- almost sporting a CTM tee

Hotter than a "bitch kitty"...Sister Debbie under the misting spray. Note that it was about 85 degrees at this point...

This dedication on the "wall of hope" left me with tears in my eyes.


Parker, Rich, Kathie and Cindy...during Rich's Survivor Lap at the beginning of the Relay.

A huge thank you to the sisters, the Brownrices, Chuck and Chris, the Thurston Relay Committee, and the crew at CTM who made this an incredible success!

It's time to Relay!

The Relay For Life of Thurston County starts today!

We're so close to our $20,000 goal - just $645 away!

If you've been touched by cancer and want to fight back, please consider donating to our team. Each dollar brings us that much closer to the cure.

If you are in town, stop by Black Hills High School - opening ceremonies are at 5:45 pm, with the Survivor Lap at 6 pm. The Midnight Memorial is at midnight, and we'll be on the track until 6 pm tomorrow!

Thank you! ♥

The Countdown to Relay: The Fundraising

(Photo by Steve Ringman, the Seattle Times)

Fundraising has always been one of my favorite parts of Relay. Debbie and I, two of the more competitive people in the world, always loved the 30 day push just before Relay...where nothing was impossible and the sky was the limit. Without deadlines, nothing would get done!

Ultimately, to me, the fundraising isn't about the dollar amount...it's what the dollars do that counts.

Survivors make it personal

Researchers make it happen

Supporters make it possible.

Over the past few years, I've been invited to speak at a number of different Relay events. 90% of the time, this is the topic I'm asked to speak on. For the Leadership Summit this fall in Reno, I'm in the process of completely redesigning the fundraising workshop to incorporate some of the top fundraisers from our division. I'm really excited to see how it's going to turn out.

Occasionally, you hear stories about how people choose to raise money that are so unique that you almost can't believe it.

Laura D'Asaro is one of those stories. She's a junior at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle. She decided to break the world record for a mile...by crawling. Crawling. Actually crawling around the track. Honestly, you couldn't pay me enough to crawl around the track...but she did. She trained throughout the spring...and here's an excerpt from the Seattle Times feature on her:

Crawling into the record book
Seattle Times • June 8, 2008

Now, it's safe to say Laura D'Asaro crawls faster than anyone on record. At least faster than anyone on record with Guinness.

The Nathan Hale High School junior set a new world speed-crawling mark Saturday by covering a mile in 22 minutes and 4 seconds — on her hands and knees. The old record, held by a Toronto man, was 23 minutes and 45 seconds. "It's my best time yet," said the 17-year-old.

D'Asaro's feat was the culmination of months of hard training and preparation. In addition to setting a world record, she raised more than $4,000 to fight cancer.

For weeks D'Asaro practiced by crawling around her neighborhood, on the Burke-Gilman Trail and at her high school. "You can only train for crawling by crawling," she said.

On Saturday, D'Asaro covered her first quarter-mile lap around Woolsey Stadium at King's High School in Shoreline in less than five minutes, her hands covered in thick gloves and her knees protected by heavy padding. She had duct-taped elbow pads to her shoes to keep them from ripping apart. "Come on, girl," some supporters yelled. She was doused with water several times to keep her cool.

Her father, Eric D'Asaro, followed her with a video camera, to document the achievement for Guinness.On her fourth and last lap, the crowd got excited. "Let's go, Laura," they began to chant. "Eye of the Tiger," a song made famous by one of the "Rocky" movies, played in the background.

When she reached the finish line — shaving more than a minute and a half from the previous record — the crowd erupted.

In case you want to see actual video footage...check out this YouTube video from the Times:

The Countdown to Relay: Nancy Peck-Cook

I love the internet. You can find all kinds of things in all kinds of places.

The other day, when reading through the blog of my good friend, Nancy Peck-Cook, I found some photos I hadn't seen in ages...from the 2004 Relay in Tacoma, the 20th anniversary of Relay, that Brian and I chaired together.

After an late night (and everyone who knows me knows that my "late night" is any time after 9 pm), I remember the advice of my wise friend and mentor, Barbara Patterson. You should take some time to just sit and absorb the Relay. The time flies by, and you don't want to miss it. Especially when it's dark and the luminaria are glowing.

So I did just that. I pulled up my blankets into the stands around 4 am, and watched the Relay until I fell asleep. That Relay was a little lonely for a number of reasons - the main one being that my entire family (except me) was in Spain while I was Relaying.

Two hours later, my grandma (a cancer survivor, by the way) called me at 6:30 am to say hi. She woke me up in the stands, where I realized that while I couldn't be seen at night...I definitely could be seen in the daylight. So much for being incognito. :)

I can sleep through everything.

These photos on Nancy's blog surfaced in a number of places - my ugly mug snoring away. The most random place they surfaced? In Slovenia. In the official international Relay For Life training PowerPoint. Everyone got to see my fabulously drooly self. God knows if I had written the PowerPoint, that photo would NOT be in it! :)

Anyway, this post is a little shout back to Nancy...from her post to me.

She is the head of national corporate initiatives for Relay For Life. An amazing leader, fantastic photographer, great encourager, and dear friend. She helped me get on the Energy Bus, and is someone whose friends I treasure...even across the US. She was instrumental in my increasing love of photography...and encouraged me to enter the national competitions for Relay photos. This photo was one of her early faves. It's still one of mine! :)

Nance, thank you for your friendship...I am blessed!

And since I love her photos...here are a few of her shots that I adore from that event...




And her photos from Celebration on the Hill in 2006...

The Countdown to Relay: Thurston Joys

We had our last team captain's meeting tonight.

It had the most people of a final TC meeting that I've ever been to...it was awesome.

Things that rocked?

• At the beginning of the meeting, they handed out the event programs so we could look through them and ask questions. So incredibly helpful.
• Also at the beginning, they handed out the team accounting showing where every team stood in terms of fundraising. For the competitive people, we all got lost in the details of how we were doing versus everyone else.
• At the end of the meeting, they handed you a full list of every single donation your team has received since you registered as a team. It denoted the date received, who it was credited to, amount, and how it was received (online donation or offline check/cash). Every single donation. I was almost in tears with joy. I didn't think it was possible to be so detailed and accurate...but Dawn Gadwa rocked it. With the exception of 5 matching gift forms that I had turned in directly to ACS in May and one online donation that was received today -- every single penny was accounted for. Being the type-A personality that works with finances every day, I could not have been happier.
• At the end, they assigned tentsites (talk about motivating your captains to not miss a meeting!) and handed out the event tees that your team ordered. Exceptional detail to managing costs and keeping the meeting flowing.

It was so fun.

Jonathan and I decided to bring Lap Beads to Thurston County this year. Let it be known that this is not our original idea. We are absolutely copying the Beach Babes, led by Sarah Conlon and Danyal Henderson, team captains from Tacoma.

When I was at the University of Nevada's Relay in April, I was chatting with the chair from the Reno/Sparks Relay, and she was telling me all about starting the lap beads at her event this year. My first words? "You should really talk to Sarah..."

She cut me off. "Sarah Conlon? Oh, we email back and forth through www.relayforlife.org and it was her idea that inspired me!"

I loved seeing the reach of one team from Tacoma. Sarah's willingness to share the idea and teach others defines the spirit of Relay. She provided detailed instructions on how to do it at an event and the American Cancer Society published it on the Society Link for Relayers across the nation to learn from. The forums on www.relayforlife.org are filled with ideas and help that started with her assistance.

Sarah, thank you! Your spirit will be felt down in Thurston this year! :)

The Countdown to Relay: Dylan

Relay For Life of Tacoma, May 2008

Little Dylan Walsh, the cancer survivor in the purple shirt...surrounded by teammates and Robin's son, Tanner...

He has grown so much since he was diagnosed in 2002...one of my favorite joys during the survivor lap is to see his bright, smiling face that gets older each year. :)

His grandparents, Bob and Joyce, have been such a gift to me over the years. I quote Bob all the time at Relay events...early on when I was volunteering, he impressed the significance of this difference: being committed vs. being involved.

My impression of his lesson?

Being merely involved means showing up on the day of Relay. Thinking it about one period of 24 hours during the year.

Being committed means day in and day out...just as those with cancer face their struggle each day, so we should be committed in our resolve to fund and find the cure. It doesn't start at Relay...it ends at Relay. A culmination of the year's work...and then looking ahead to the next year.

This is the Friends and Family of Soundview Mortgage's 17th year Relaying.

Excerpted the News Tribune article I wrote in 2005...

Friends and Family of Soundview Mortgage have Relayed for 14 years.

Never did they imagine that cancer would find their littlest team member.

Dylan walked his first survivors’ lap in 2004 as a cancer-free survivor. A diagnosis of Burkitt’s lymphoma in 1992 would have given him a 5% survival rate. Thanks to research, his 2002 diagnosis gave him a 75% chance of survival.

Today he is a healthy, happy four-year-old. Proud grandparents and team captains, Bob and Joyce Walsh reflect, “What if there wasn’t an American Cancer Society and no Relay For Life? Nothing would have been done!”

Truer words have never been spoken.

The Countdown to Relay: The 2008 Team Tee

One of my favorite things about Relay is the "why". Everyone Relays for their own reasons...and this is one of the best ways to visualize all the different reasons we Relay.

My first year of a team tee was in 2003, when I was the captain of the St. Charlie's Angels team - filled with kids from the St. Charles Youth group. Each of the kids picked someone that they loved who had survived and someone who passed away from cancer, and Relayed for them.

The only year that our team tee held just one name was in 2004...the first year of our Merrill Lynch team. That year, one of the advisors in our office, John Moller, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, and passed away six months to the day from his first seizure in the office. We Relayed for him.

In the years following, as more of our Merrill family was affected by cancer, we expanded the team shirt to include the names of those we celebrate and those we've lost. Each year, the names grew longer.

2008 is the first year for our Connolly, Tacon & Meserve team. It's the first team tee (out of six) where Mama G is listed under "remember"...

The names Jonathan and I personally added to the list this year...

We Relay to Celebrate our Survivors

Kay Bottenfield

Rich Brown

Kathleen Devin

Tony Marino

Bill Roberts

Dave Stickland

We Relay to Remember Those We've Lost

Corazon "Mama G" Gatbunton

Jan Halliday

Monica Lyons

John Moller

Mary Sprouffske

In addition, the sisters (Kathie, Debbie and Cindy) have a handful of names included that are included in those close to them. We are Relaying together through our teams, even though we are now in different events.

It leads to the question...why do you Relay? Who do you Relay for?

The Countdown to Relay: Sweet tunes

A few years ago, to inspire the mentors of the Relay in Tacoma (they help the teams get ready to Relay), something was needed to help connect the emotion of Relay to what they were doing.

There's no better way (in the off-season, at least!) than pulling together a number of songs into a mix!

I asked a number of Relayers close to me to share their most favorite songs that remind them of Relay...and here's what they came up with.

• I Run For Life - Melissa Etheridge
• Into the Fire - Bruce Springsteen
• Dream Big - Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband
• Walk On - U2
• I'll Stand By You - The Pretenders
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
• Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
• You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
• Celebration - Kool and the Gang
• I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
• Walk Down This Mountain - Bebo Norman
• Love Can Build a Bridge - The Judds
• I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack

Debbie, Kathie, Cindy and I continue this tradition each year - we're on volume 4 for 2009 - but these are my absolute favorites. From happy to emotional, they fill you with hope throughout.

I uploaded the PDF of the CD insert -- with the names of the people who chose them, and their reasons for doing so. Click here to read through it...

The reasons will bring tears to your eyes.

The Countdown to Relay: Mama G

A year ago today, Mama G passed away.

It's still hard to believe -- after her decade long struggle with multiple myeloma, and subsequent battle with her aggressive small cell carcinoma of the parotid gland which ultimately took her life. A year has passed.

Today was the Memorial Mass, held on the anniversary of her death at St. Vincent de Paul. Just like it was yesterday, it seemed like we were walking through the doors of the church for her Rosary and funeral Mass.

It was truly a beautiful Mass - one of the most poignant moments was following the Eucharist, when Fort played the clarinet to the instrumental version of "To Where You Are" by Josh Groban. They gave us the lyrics...and there wasn't a dry eye in the sanctuary when he was finished.

Who can say for certain
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memory's so clear

Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration - can it be
That you are mine, Forever love
And you are watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile, if only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen
As my heart holds you

Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me everyday
Cause you are my Forever love
Watching me from up above
And I believe that angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star I wish upon tonight
To see you smile, if only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

I know you're there
A breath away's not far to where you are

The night Jonathan proposed (June 1, 2007), my blackberry buzzed. In it was a photo of her smiling in Arizona, holding a "Congratulations Jonathan and Shelley" sign. With as sick as she was, she was still connected to the grapevine, and heard he proposed a few hours earlier. And she sent her love.

During the toasts at our wedding, Michael G gave us one of her knit hats that she wore as her hair fell out from treatments. In a small physical way, she was there...but through the communion of saints, she was especially present at the Wedding Mass. It was an immeasurable gift to us.

I had saved a voice mail of hers from my birthday in 2006 - when she and Fort sang to me and invited themselves over for cake. :) She always made me laugh - even and especially through tears.

Jonathan and I learned so much from her family - about sacrifice, love through service, trusting in God even though sometimes it doesn't make sense, and offering up your pain through the struggles of life.

I hope you'll take a few moments to read through these past posts (both mine and Michael's) - if someone you love has had cancer, or you have parents or children that you love. These are among my favorites:

• Musings • June 2006
  One of my best reasons to sum up why we Relay
• Food For Thought • September 2006
  Excerpted from Michael's post
• Wonderful Thoughts and Reflections • September 2006
  Written by Mama G, just after her birthday party
• Prayers, Please • May 2007
  Excerpted from Michael's post about the last days

Looking back over time...here are a few of my favorite images...

From Mama G's last Relay...the honor of helping her with her survivor medal
Relay For Life of Tacoma, June 2006

Part of the Gatbunton Family at Relay

The extended G family...
Mama G's birthday celebration, September 2006

Mama G's luminaria from my team, 2007


At her birthday celebration...as Fort was preparing to sing "Lady in Red"

This is one of my most favorite photos of her...ever. ♥

I miss you.

The Countdown to Relay: Pat Flynn

Relay For Life of Tacoma, May 2008
The Flynn Family Team

Affectionately known as the "Mother of Relay", Pat Flynn has been there since the beginning. With Dr. Gordy Klatt, she was one of the key people who helped to transition Gordy's 24 hour run in 1985 to a team event - the first one taking place at Stadium Bowl in 1986. Over the upcoming years, she helped train and inspire countless thousands across the US - teaching them how to fight back through Relay.

A little over ten years after the first team event was held, the number of Relay participants across the nation numbered 1,000,000. The following year, 1998, Pat was inducted into the Relay For Life Hall of Fame.

The following year, Relay exceeds $127,000,000 in cumulative funds raised with 2,500 community events.

Four short years later, Relay exceeds $1,000,000,000 in total contributions to the American Cancer Society since Gordy's first laps around the track at the University of Puget Sound.

This weekend, Pat celebrates her 70th birthday. While I couldn't make it to her celebration on Friday, I want to share why she is such a joy to me.

Over the years, she's been an inspiration, a friend, confidante, Relay muse, editor to the Relay newsletters that I've created, and even took time to help edit goodies for my wedding to Jonathan last December. She's one of those people who "sees the big picture", challenges people to grow and learn, and is a genuine joy to be around.

You are a blessing to me, Pat, and I treasure your friendship! ♥

The two of us, Relay For Life of Tacoma, May 2005

Pat and Debbie, Relay For Life of Tacoma, May 2008

Pat and Phylecia Wilson, May 2004
Like Pat, Phylecia was inducted into the Relay For Life Hall of Fame (2001). Friends from opposite coasts (Phylecia is from Georgia, home of the largest Relay in the world), they have seen Relay grow from Tacoma's beginnings to an international movement.

As Pat's Relay For Life letters always say...

Survivors make it personal

Researchers make it happen

Supporters make it possible.

What a gift she is! ♥

The Countdown to Relay: Celebrate

From the catwalk at opening ceremonies
Relay For Life of Tacoma, May 2005

Celebrate • Remember • Fight Back

You'll find each of these at every Relay event. The first -- celebrate -- is what happens at the beginning of every Relay. The opening lap is filled with survivors on the track.

One of my favorite images from the last year I chaired the Relay in Tacoma...the survivors filling the track awaiting their first lap.

It's a moment filled with joy, tears, celebration for all those we love who are fighting cancer right now. Survivors are most often found in purple Relay tees, with survivor medals around their necks.

One of my favorite quotes, excerpted from the story I wrote in the Tacoma News Tribune in 2005 for our Relay insert...

The Baker Bulldogs formed their team three years ago when team captain Juanita Fejerang was diagnosed.

In her first year as a survivor, she was determined to be part of the Survivors’ Lap. She had no hair and it was more than she could bear. She began weeping.

A gentleman with pancreatic cancer walked up to her, put his arm around her, and said, “It’s okay. I’ll walk with you.”

She smiles, “That was just like God, sending a friend when I needed it most.”

If you haven't attended Opening Ceremonies before...don't miss your chance. For our Relay, opening ceremonies are at 6 pm on Friday, June 27th at Black Hills High School. :)

You should be there.