Relay for Life comes to our school

I want to write about an event that took place yesterday. It was the first time such an event took place here, though the event has been repeated at other schools in the area.

Relay for Life, a fundraising unit for the American Cancer Society, held a mini-walk at the elementary school where I teach.

Actually, there have been related events going on all through the week here, ending with the Relay for Life mini-walk. The mini-walk involved each classroom taking a 15-minute time period and walking around the school to show their support for cancer survivors, and to bring recognition to the American Cancer Society. Everyone came prepared to walk by either wearing or bringing their walking shoes. I brought mine.

Throughout the week, students and teachers "voted" for the cutest Baby Picture (pictures of staff in their early infancy and childhood) by dropping money in jars numbered to match a baby picture. The money jars filled up fast, and on Thursday it was counted. Nearly $900 was raised over the span of four days, money that is being given to the American Cancer Society.

The highlight of the event, you would think, was the money raised to help find the cure for cancer and to provide for the care of cancer patients, but for me, the highlight was when cancer survivors from our community were introduced during the opening ceremony. They stood up as their names were announced, each holding a purple balloon. Among them, a woman I didn't know, a couple of men I didn't know, a woman from my church and her husband, a toddler, and three of our own teachers: One a mother and grandmother, one with elementary aged-children, and one with a two year old daughter. All cancer survivors. But you wouldn't know that they'd ever been sick, or depressed, or marked by any of the painful treatments or surgeries they might have undergone.

Or maybe you would if you wondered where their passion for life came from, their determination to make the most of each day, their appreciation for the life they've been given, again. The three teachers have been deeply involved in bringing Relay for Life to our school, and for helping to raise awareness for cancer research. In addition to their teaching jobs, and raising a family, they have given their time for this worthy cause. They looked healthy and happy today.

Now the audience they stood before yesterday was not filled with impressive political dignitaries nor wealthy business owners and corporate executives. No, the audience was predominantly children, grades K-5, and their teachers. The children were respectfully quiet when the speakers stood up. For a crowd of 420 or so kids, who normally challenge their teachers' patience each day when asked to sit quietly for more than fifteen minutes, this was quite an accomplishment.

The most memorable words spoken came from Marie's story. She'd had cancer when she was younger, and had to have the chemo and the radiation therapy. I marveled that she found the right words to explain to the children why she was standing there speaking about it to them. Marie knows there are children in the building who know someone close to them who had or has cancer. She knew they'd be listening. For the children's ears, she made light of the hair loss, and had them laughing with her. Her inspiring message was that the dreaded cancer cannot steal your spirit away from you.

As she spoke of her fear when she heard the diagnosis, I was reminded of my own little scare two years ago. What I'd had was nothing compared to her experience, nor the others standing at the podium. No chemo or radiation for me. No hair loss, no nausea... I had squamous cell carcinoma on my leg, just above the knee. It began as a small growth, looking very much like a wart, which is what I thought it was. I treated it like a wart, but when it continued to grow, and started to bleed, I became alarmed. The doctor made the diagnosis rather quickly from an immediate biopsy. It was surgically removed two days later in the doctor's office, not at the hospital. It had not mestasticized anywhere. I was fortunate. I am more careful in the sun these days. Sunscreen and hats are my friends.

During the assembly that was held at the end of the day, after all the classes had put in their 15 minute walk, the winner of the competition was announced, and the reward presented: a baby bib and pacifier for the Cutest Baby Picture winner. The teacher graciously accepted her award (teachers often are asked to do things in front of their students that appear humiliating and foolish), and the students clapped wildly. I think they loved seeing their teacher wear a baby bib and pop the pacifier into her mouth. She really was very cute (and a great team player!).

We wonder sometimes how we are going to teach our children compassion for others, how to help them gain awareness of their place in the community, and to know that school isn't just about reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. With all the demands placed upon the school day, upon the subjects that need to be taught, and upon testing, it seems amazing that there is still time to fit events like this into the school day.

But it shouldn't be amazing. It should be more common than that. Watching how the kids partipated in the fundraiser by voting for their favorite teacher, bringing in money to make sure their favorite had a chance to win, and buying paper links so their class could win the "Link out Cancer" contest (enough paper links were bought to line the driveway in front of the school) proved that integrating community interest projects can be done without upsetting the balance of the day (too much). Certainly, doing the event the week after EOG testing was a brilliant move.

The Relay for Life team organized the event. In addition to the teachers, Julie, Jesica, and Marie, I took photos of American Cancer Society members, Betty Isaacs, Wil Bethea, and Troy Thee who were present for the ceremonies and mini-walk. They actually spent the entire day with us. After observing the support given from teachers and staff this week, I would say we'll be doing it again next year.

One little girl, as she hopped into her car yesterday afternoon, said to her mother "You know about that cancer thing?" Her mother looked at me, then said with some hesitation, "Yeah?" The little girl slid into her seat and explained, "Our class won!" Now I don't think the mother really understood what the girl was talking about, but I knew she would ask her daughter about it on their drive home, and she would learnabout the "Link out Cancer" fundraiser, and the Cute Baby Contest, and about the walk around the building. And when the subject of cancer comes up, the mother and daughter will have another angle to talk about: that many people survive and thrive after cancer, and that the American Cancer Society helps those survivors.

For more information dealing with American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, and Breast Cancer:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/par/content/PAR_1_Relay_For_Life.asp