The sky was mostly grey. Only a couple patches of blue peeked out from behind the clouds as a group of people gathered around the track. The sky might have been overcast, but the 445 faces assembled in Anthem, AZ were aglow with hope, purpose and unity. These 445 participants had come together on April 28th, 2012 for Relay for Life, an event to raise money and awareness for the on-going fight against cancer. CyberTrails was proud to be a sponsor of this important annual event, which is one of The American Cancer Society’s biggest fundraisers.
The American Cancer Society has been holding Relay for Life events around the country since the 1980s. These overnight events create an atmosphere of community and unity. The participants form teams and each person on the team takes turns walking around the track. This year’s event in Anthem had a total of 36 teams!
A member of CyberTrail’s sales team, our own Amber O’Donnell, was a member of the “Walkin’ On Sunshine” team at the event. She walked the track for 10 of the 12 hour event. Cancer has touched several members of her family as well as close friends and co-workers. “Cancer does not distinguish between the young and old, the rich or poor, it touches all of our lives in some way, shape or form…I relay for a future where we never have to hear the dreaded words… you have cancer.” says Amber.
The event began with a Survivor’s Lap; cancer survivors and their caregivers were invited to circle the track together to celebrate their victories over cancer. When the sun set, there was a Luminaria Ceremony where individuals honor those lives that have been affected by cancer and remembered those loved ones whose lives were lost. This portion of the ceremony concludes with a lap of silence, as the luminarias burned brightly and while bagpipes played Amazing Grace in the background. The Fight Back Ceremony helped to close the event, like it does all across the country and relayers took a final lap and pledged to fight back by spreading awareness about cancer research, treatments and prevention.
John Diamond, a British broadcaster and journalist who lost his fight with cancer in 2001 wrote, “Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” CyberTrails is proud to be a part of keeping that word out of as many peoples’ vocabulary as possible and striving to ensure that no one’s story ends that way. This one event, The Relay for Life in Anthem, raised over $73,000 for the American Cancer Society. CyberTrails was so glad to be able to be a part of this day and enjoys giving back to the community and striving to make a difference in the lives of others.
