Most people have heard of Relay for Life, an international event put on by the American Cancer Society to raise awareness and support for the fight against cancer. Relay for life was started by Dr. Gordy Klatt in 1985 when he walked around a track for 24 hours straight, surrounded with support from his family, friends and patients. Dr. Klatt walked over eighty-three miles and raised $27,000 to donate to the fight against cancer. The following year, 19 teams followed in Dr. Klatt's footsteps to become a part of the first Relay for Life, raising over $33,000. Since then, communities all over the world have been hosting their own Relays for Life, raising a total of nearly $5 billion dollars to put towards the fight. Although Dr. Gordy Klatt died from stomach cancer on August 3, 2014, he left a legacy and a foundation that will continue to make a difference throughout the world.

Each Relay for Life varies in the activities planned for the night, but they all include a Survivors' Lap, Luminaria Ceremony, food, games, and a walk. This year, the Archdiocese of New Orleans CYO Relay for Life lasted from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m on June 24-25, 2016. As participants, we were given three different ways to participate in the walk: signing up to walk a few laps at different times of the night, participating in fun and competitive games between CYO groups, or completing the Iron Man challenge.

Together, my friend and I chose to take on the Iron Man challenge, which requires that we continuously walk around the track from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., only taking breaks for midnight mass and 10 minutes every hour. When she told me about the challenge early in the night, I was eager to try, and throughout the luminary ceremony where we reflected on those who struggled through the battle, my eagerness to try turned into determination to succeed.

When I was in seventh grade, my grandfather died of cancer. He did not struggle with it for long, and by the time he passed away, I still hadn't even completely wrapped my head around the fact that he had been diagnosed with cancer. I walked for him. I walked for my friend's mom who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I walked for my aunt who beat breast cancer. I walked for all the people whose lives have been affected by this universal disease.

For Relay for Life, we stay up because cancer never sleeps. We relay to show that we are advocates against cancer. We relay to find a cure and give back to the community. We relay to honor survivors, pray for those still fighting the battle, and remember those who we lost. We relay because we believe in the American Cancer Society.

This is for you, Pawpaw. We love and miss you. 10/25/10