A most humbling experience
Friday, July 13, 2012
By: Linda Cairncross

After my son's diagnosis my life has been like living in a nightmare. The experience of participating in the Relay for life was ever life changing yet again for me. The unbiased hand of cancer was made very evident and overwhelming. It was an honour to walk

My 39 year old son was diagnosed with colon cancer last Oct. It was without a doubt one of the most difficult things I have ever had to face in my life, as a mother and a health care provider. I can only imagine what my son has gone through these past months, but he did it with great dignity, strength and courage. It has been a most humbling experience. But he is a survivor. As a first time participant in Relay for Life, it was humbling and something that will forever change my life. How overwhelming to walk that track with my son and the sea of survivors, caregivers and supporters. Finally, how overwhelming to feel the range of emotions throughout the night. Such joy, sadness, fun and camaraderie along with a whole range of other emotions were heart warming and motivation to push forward, not only with the walk but with living life to its fullest. The number of yellow shirts was an inspiration as well as a rude awakening as to the far reaching effect cancer has. No one should consider themselves exempt. It touches each and every one of our lives and we should all stand united and fight back with everything we have to rid the world of this disease. Enough, lets end cancer now.