Courage for Cancer
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
By: Candice Syrek

This is my first Relay and I'm sure it won't be my last!

I am really excited and truly honored to be participating in this year’s Relay For Life!!! This is my first Relay and I'm sure it won't be my last! I have already lost family members to this disease but this year I will Relay for LIFE..for those who are battling right now. I'm taking part in this year’s relay for 2 reasons. The first reason is for my friend Michael Antcliffe...he is truly a remarkable human being and I'm absolutely privileged to know him!!His journey of courage with Melanoma that he's allowed me to walk with him has rocked me to my core. He also helps keep me grounded for the 2nd reason that I am participating this year. That reason being my Mother in Law. She was diagnosed in May of 2011 with Stage 3B lung cancer (one month before her son and I got married) and it completely flipped our world upside down. Through Michael Antcliffe's journey and his empowering words, I find myself stronger and stronger every day, to keep my strength together to hold my mother in law's hand and help her to stand tall to fight this horrible disease and to do my best to carry her heart as she endures her cancer journey.
Together we WILL beat this disease!!