Cancer Awareness Week

One great thing about working in student affairs is that you have unlimited opportunities to volunteer in the community.  Today was a great reminder of that.  I am thankful to be part of a committee that coordinated Cancer Awareness Week, which was this week.  We spent almost a year trying to make this week an unforgettable week for those that are passionate about cancer prevention & celebrating  the survivors. 

Earlier this week, along with many other campus-wide events, we were able to run a membership drive for National Bone Marrow Registry at Discovery Park & had quite a success.  My boss & I genuinely enjoyed encouraging students to be on the registry & helping them understand the importance of community support.  I have learned more about cancer & cancer treatment than I have ever before; it was an eye-opening moment for me to realize that we need global support to beat this seemingly unbeatable disease. 

For me, though, the highlight of the week was today.  I volunteered to facilitate Be The Match drive to encourage more people join the registry as part of Relay for Life.  This was my first time participating in Relay for Life, joining the cause for cancer awareness.  I personally am thankful for not knowing anybody with cancer, but I have become  aware that it can happen to anyone.  While I spent majority of time helping others fill out applications & cheek swapping (for DNA), I did partake in some Relay for Life activities. 

Almost all participants are either cancer survivors, donors, caregivers, or family members of current cancer patients.  In fact, one of the volunteers at the booth today was a UNT professor at Discovery Park who is now cancer-free from bone marrow transplant.  It was very emotional for me to watch all different groups of people gathered for the same cause.  There were moments to celebrate current survivors, mourn for those that passed, and remember all who have gone through such hardships.  There was so much positivity in all of us & the inspiration has flourished in the atmosphere everywhere.

{People in purple t-shirt were cancer survivors.  They took the first lap of the relay}

{Family members/caregivers of cancer patients took the next lap}

{Exercise before the official relay began!}

{Be the Match registry booth.  We had so many people that registered today!}

{The dance, relay, & all the fun kept on going}

I had the opportunity to meet some of many cancer survivors today - listening to their hardships, their battles, years of searching for the right marrow donor, & the road that brought them here.  Was it emotional?  Oh yes indeed.  All the surrealism of this disease comes to life when you listen to people’s stories & get to watch family members right beside them supporting all the way, wherever it takes.  Despite the disease being such a haunting experience for  so many in this world, it was amazing to see all the similes that filled the stadium.  So much encouragement, support, and inspiration. 

Relay for Life continues throughout the night & all the way till tomorrow morning.  I cannot honestly imagine what kind of life people would lead with cancer, but I am completely inspired by their relentless & persistence to survive.  Life can never be taken for granted & today especially reminded me of that.