RELAY FOR LIFE.......

I had the opportunity to be a part of something AWESOME this year, something that I have NEVER done before. Archibald's were a corporate sponsor for the Relay for Life this year, so between our office and the Rexburg office, we put a team together. For those of you who don't know, the Relay for Life is put on by the American Cancer Society and basically it is to raise money for cancer. The Relay for Life is to recognize those batteling cancer, those who have survived cancer, and those who have lost their battle to cancer. Since my mom and sister are both cancer sirvivors, this was a pretty special and emotional night for out family.They started the night off with an opening ceremony just talking about what was going to be happening. Then they had a couple of survivors speak, they recognized and announced all the survivors that were there that night, and then they had a survivor lap. Which is where all of the survivors and their caregivers take the first lap around the track. This year, the Relay was held at the Madison High School track.

My family walking the survivor lap with my mom and McKenzie.

All of the survivors that were there that night. This was a pretty emotional thing for us.

I had been put in charge of putting the team together which made me the team captain. Because I have all the time in the world....HA HA........we didn't get much fund raising done. So we decided to do an On Site fund raiser the night of the Relay. We did dutch oven chili and baked potatos!! It was a hit!!

McKenzie, Mom, Chelsea, Lindsey, D'Andre and Oakleigh taking their turn walking the track!! :)

Crystal, Chancey, and Kento Fenton. Crystal works in our Rexburg office and her husband Kent is the one who did the dutch oven chili for us!! We sold out, so next year we will be making twice as much chili!! :) Thanks Kent for all your help!!

Me and Madi taking our turn walking!! At the Relay, someone from your team has to be on the track at all times. In the beginning we trie to take turns so that there was always a couple of people helping in the food booth.

Me and Steph!! Steph is actually the one who first told me about Relay for Life and suggested that my family put a team together. Her and I have been close friends for as long as I can remember. We both have sisters the same age that have also been close friends for a LONG time, and our sisters BOTH were diagnosed with Leukemia. Rachelle, Stephs sister when she was in Jr. High, and McKenzie right after she graduated High School. It was so neat to be able to share this night with them. Our booths were set up right next to each other.

At dusk they do what they call a Luminaria Ceremony, which is where people can buy a Luminaria, a white paper sack with a candle inside of it, for each person that they have lost to cancer. They take these Luminarias and line them a long the outside of the track and then up in the bleachers and at dusk they light the candles and everyone takes a SILENT lap around the track. I LOVED how they spelled HOPE & CURE with the Luminarias in the bleachers.

As we were finishing the silent lap this horrible storm rolled in and the thunder and lightning was awfull!! Then it started POURING RAIN for about 15 minutes.

We were lucky to have some team mates that didn't care that it was raining and continued walking!! Thanks Madi, Paden, and Alex!!

After the rain and wind stopped I was right back on the track!! I knew if I sat down I would not want to get back up, I probably would have fallen a sleep!! So I just kept walking!! I ended up going almost 27 miles that night. This was one of the neatest experiences I have ever had and it was awesome to be able to be a part of it with my family. I am so greatful to still have my mom and sister here today. I know what it's like to lose a family member to cancer. My moms dad died of cancer 21 years ago and Bryan lost his dad to cancer. I am greatful for my boss who made it possible for us to be a part of Relay. This will definitely be something we will be doing again next year.