My first time
Thursday, March 15, 2012
By: Jenny Davidson

This is my first year doing the relay for life. Here is why I decided to take part.

Fifteen years ago, I didn't know what cancer was, let alone anyone who had it. Now here I am, 24 years old, with a list as long as my arm, of people who have had cancer or are currently battling this awful disease. That being said, I still don't understand it.
When I was in high school, I helped a close friend of mine battle cancer by being an extra set of hands with her two very young children. I've watched my uncle battle cancer not once, but twice. And I am thankful every day of life that they are both now happy, healthy and enjoying life to the fullest. My friend had baby number three after her battle, and he's now in kindergarten and growing like a bad weed. My uncle is a new grandfather and loving every second of it. Unfortunately, not all of my stories have a happy ending. My grandmother had uterine cancer years ago. She did win the battle however was unable to have any more children due to the hysterectomy the doctors needed to perform. She was 38. Twenty years later she lost her husband, my grandfather, to leukemia. I was a toddler, and therefore I never got to know him. It was 14 years later in 2005, that she lost her daughter, my aunt to lung & bone cancer. My aunt’s battle was very short, about 2 weeks. The day before her funeral, my mother bought me a bright yellow Live Strong bracelet. Almost 7 years later, and it's still on my wrist. I learned how quickly and closely cancer can affect a family or persons life. What scares me the most is knowing that someday I may have to watch my parents, my boyfriend, my baby sister or even myself, attempt to fight cancer. My mom has been taking part in the Sussex Relay for Life for many years, and my sister is taking nuclear medicine in university so that they can help find a cure. I need to do more than wear a yellow band on my wrist. I need to step up and help bite cancer in the butt.