Inspired

Relay for Life 2010 is complete, although my fundraising efforts will continue. I am proud to say that I was at the event for the entire 24 hours, as the sole member of my team. Maybe I think that wrong, every member of my team did attend I was just the only one there for more than an hour at a time. A little disappointing in some aspects, a little lonely, but all and all, a great day. I walked the first hour by myself, then took lunch and a nap. Travis and I then went for some food and a visit before he left because he was sick. Mom came by and did an hour, leaving when the storm clouds threatened to actually break over the sunny Stadium (she did have other things to do as well). The weather however, continued to cooperate and I only felt a couple of rain drops hit me before the sun was out again. I watched the clouds circle the stadium all day, but I guess Mother Nature encouraged us to keep walking and keep up our fight against cancer. After Mom left, all the participants who were there took park in spelling “Fight” (as the theme this year for the event was ‘Fight Back’ against Cancer) on the grass for an overhead photo shot. I was proud to stand as part of the ‘H’.

And now… the head shaving… I had talked about it, but hadn’t got any donations, so I wasn’t going to do it. But as I sat there, watching boys shave their heads to make wigs, and little girls cut off their pony tail, it was becoming more something I needed to do. I was a little scared though… Jordan came by about then, but wouldn’t tell me to shave my head. What I really needed was someone to be like, Jenna, Just do it! Some little girls (one a survivor) caught wind of our conversation and encouraged me to shave my head. The Survivor told me that having cancer didn’t seem so bad once she got her wig – she felt normal again. She told me very seriously, that she would shave her head for a wig, but her hair was just starting to grow back, so she didn’t want to be bald again just yet. I tried to make Jordan shave his head with me, but he was having nothing to do with that. Turns out, I talked myself into doing it. I sat down, as the last participant who was going bald for cancer. I was ecstatic when I heard that my hair was long enough to donate to cancer! All of my hair has now been captured for a wig for a cancer patient! What an amazing feeling that is. Yes, I am bald, and my head might glow in the dark, but I helped a cancer patient be able to feel normal again because they no longer have to go around with no hair. I am one of them in spirit. I shaved my head for others, because it is about all I can do to really support them. Yes, I donate money, and I collect donations for the cause, but, to give my hair, that is giving a part of me and it is going directly to someone who will cherish it. They tried to tell me that I couldn’t give my hair for a wig because it had been treated. When I said that it was all natural colour, just enhanced by three months in Africa, they were all amazed. I caught a look that said “She’s nuts! Her hair is naturally amazing and she is shaving it??!” But I knew it was still the right thing for me to be doing. I texted everyone I had a number for and let them know that I was now bald. I thank each and every one of you for your supportive responses!

Survivors this year were given a yellow bandana that said “Survivor” down the side. I quickly realized that people confused my Relay for Life yellow bandana and my bald head as a sure sign that I was a survivor. I had many people ask me what kind of cancer I had. I had many people stop and give me support – not because I had shaved my head for the cause, but because I was a Survivor. In many ways, I am. I do consider myself to be a survivor. They did remove cancerous cells from my body during a biopsy. However, when mixed with people that endured the horrors of Chemotherapy, I cannot bring myself to tell them that I too, am a survivor. I guess I consider there to be levels of survivor-ship, and I fall on the lowest rung. But to me, I am a survivor. 4 years cancer free now!

Cold, I went to bed for a couple hours (I didn’t sleep though) so that I could warm up before midnight. It was also too dark (and cold) to read at the tent, and my feet hurt too much to walk anymore for now. I was toasty warm in my bed. I got out again just after 11 pm, to go and celebrate during the Midnight Luminary Remember Ceremony. Jenn, Syn, Lydia, Mary, Andrew, Sonja and Eric showed up to visit (I am sure they just didn’t believe the texts they had received saying that I was now bald for cancer). However, they were for the most part unprepared for the weather, so they didn’t stay long. Travis and I stood together, near tears, for the remember ceremony. We then walked the candle-light walk, took a picture of the Luminary I purchased for Marlene, and departed ways yet again: me to my tent and him to his bed. I didn’t sleep well; in fact, I was really cold in the night. However, I was back up by 7:30 munching on pancakes! I started to walk again around 8. I ran into an old friend while I was limping around (I have blisters on the bottoms of both feet) the track. It was nice to have company for the last hour or so! And, he was sweet enough to offer to help me take down my tent since I was alone for my team. I did tell him that I was supposed to have help for that, but I just hadn’t heard from anybody. I walked 60 laps that I remembered to click, and that didn’t count just walking back to the tent of anything. I am very proud of my accomplishments.

I know that I have been complaining about the world we live in. It is events such as the Relay for Life where the community pulls together that inspire me to keep trying. Prince George raised over $360 000 for this event, and money is still coming in! I have another garage sale that I will be having with all proceeds going back to Relay for Life (May 15^th! 8-4, 980 Jarvis St!). I am hoping that my bald head will inspire people to bring in some more money to support that I did it to help a cancer patient. I still have big plans. And I have big dreams that we will be able to eradicate cancer. Can you help?