Celebrating Birthdays.

For close to 10 years now, I've participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and loved every second of it.  The cause is near and dear to my heart, having family members who struggled or were lost to cancer, even as recent as a couple months ago.

The ACS slogan this year is "Celebrating More Birthdays," and it's perfect in my eyes.  With any luck, the money raised at events like this could very well give many, many cancer patients more birthdays.

I want to help give people more birthdays.  

So, here's the scoop, and I hope it inspires you to give people more birthdays as well.

Relay for Life is an amazing event, based on continuous movement on a track of some sort for 12-36 hours by teams, raising money for cancer research.  The concept is that you create or join a team, and at least one person from each team is walking on the track for every second of the event.  Cancer patients never get a break from their diagnosis, so there are no breaks in the walking.

The night begins with an amazing survivor lap, which features cancer survivors, and ultimately, their care-givers as well, walking one lap around the track to kick off the event.  Also featured are contests, fund raisers, live music, and lots and lots of walking and running.

Throughout the evening, you can purchase luminary bags to decorate in memory or honor of someone who has lost their struggle with or is currently battling cancer.  After dark, the track is lined by the bags with a candle in each one, and the lights are turned off.  What you are left with is one extremely emotional experience.  You can physically see the effect of cancer on each person present, as these luminaria represent a person that each person there knows personally.  It is by far my absolute favorite part of the entire event, and I look forward to it each year.

Here are a couple pictures of the bags to give an idea of just how special these are:

{photo cred:  Tory Warner}

I have always been lucky enough to have people that support my passion for this event, and join a team with me.  Last year, we began a company/family (since they are basically one in the same at our company) team.  It was such a great night that we have decided to do it again.

However, I've run into some technical difficulties with the website.  I'm working with the wonderful people at the American Cancer Society to get to the bottom of the issues and will *hopefully* have it resolved tomorrow.

Sooooo...that means for all you fantastic people wanting to join our team, Metro Mobile Electronics & Friends, or donate to this life-changing cause, please please please (yes, I threw out the triple-please - I'm not ashamed to beg for cancer research) let me know.  I will be more than ecstatic to take your money for this organization and I'd be even happier for you to join us on April 29th and 30th!!!

I will have instructions for whoever is interested in signing up {fingers crossed} tomorrow afternoon!  Hope to hear from you!