Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

I attended the university's Relay for Life event last night and though I didn't stay for the entire 12 hours, making an appearance for only 4 hours, I was able to participate in the luminaria ceremony and be reminded that this deadly disease touches almost everyone. Participants were given candles and we lined the track forming a giant circle before eventually walking the track as each name found on a luminaria was called out beginning with "In honor of..." or "In memory of..." Though I did not pay for any luminarias this year, I found myself staring at my candle thinking of my professor, my aunt, my grad school classmate, all who fought cancer. The ceremony lasted close to an hour and my friend and I were trying to guess how long it would take if someone read aloud the names of each and every loved one who battled cancer. We figured it could take weeks. Powerful.

Once again, I was incredibly moved by the passion and love for service that our students exude. They came out in force last night to sell baked goods, raise money, and spend the evening in the cold, somewhat rainy, weather to stand up to cancer. And I was incredibly proud of the student steering committee that worked all year to make the event happen. I know several of them and was proud to see them so engaged and full of life last night.

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. Relay for Life. #CancerSucks.