I Relay Because-
Thursday, December 18, 2008
By: Richard Parry

God Has A Purpose For Everyone

March 1993,Thunder Bay, Ontario.
I lost my mom due to complications related to cancer surgery. It was not a happy time in my life as this left a big hole in my heart.

But God had a plan for me. That plan was revealed, in part, when I met Brenda Burgess as I was co-ordinating a local Cops for Cancer event in Digby, Nova Scotia. Brenda suggested that I might want to take her up on her invitation to attend a Volunteers Conference at White Point Beach Resort in September of 2005.

This is where God stepped in, and challenged me to answer a call to host a Relay For Life in Digby. I gladly accepted the challenge, as I had lost a number of close friends in Digby to cancer, had friends who were winnig their personal battles with the disease, and continue to this day.

June 2006, with the help of some awsome and very talented people on the committee, off we went with a very successful Relay. The answer to God's Purpose for challenging me came during the Luminary Ceremony while John Gracie and his daughter were singing [in person], "The Answer is Blowing in the Wind", and I looked around the track border to see all the participants, survivors, volunteers and committee members holding hands and quitely singing along. I understood why "I Relay".

2009 will be my third year as Relay For Life Event Chair and I can't wait for June 12 to get here.