Walk for Cancer

What a day!!! The alarm went off at 4:30. We were up, dressed and out the door quickly. With Bob walking me to the ball field on the south side of Seine Bight, we managed to wake up a few of the neighbourhood dogs and as the sun was coming up, the birds were chirping and the mosquitoes and sand flies were biting.

We were told this was the largest walk yet, there were 94 of us, and the areas on the peninsula that were represented were from Placencia Village, Seine Bight Village to Coco Plum.

As we gathered at the ball field, we formed a circle, held hands and said a prayer. A prayer for those we knew that we have lost to cancer, a prayer for those who are battling cancer right now, and a prayer for those who are cancer survivors. I thought of the people I have known in my life that are in one of those three categories. People that I haven't thought about in awhile, came flooding back, with memories of all the good times, and the sad times. I was thinking about these people and memories as I walked along.

I was especially thinking about my sister Rachelle, who has already lost half her tongue to cancer and only Wednesday, was in for another biopsy.

When the walk was finished and we were all across the finish line, we lined up on the beach and listened while they played "I Run For Life" by Melissa Etheridge.


I Run for Life
(Melissa Etheridge)

It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete

[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me, my friend
I run for life

It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To awake when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all

[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life

And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more

I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister, your daughter, your wife
For you and me my friend
I run for life
Ohohohoh

I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend
I run for life

Hearing the words only made me more emotional and after the song, we all turned to the water and one by one, took two steps forward and tossed a handful of sand into the waves, giving the name of the person we were dedicating this walk to. As I stepped forward, I said "For my sister, Rachelle Warner, I love you." It was never more true than at that moment.

After our dedications, we all received medals and got to eat breakfast. I am looking forward to the next walk/run and will be challenging friends to come along with me or if they don't want to do it, maybe they would sponsor someone else.