Garner: Opinion

Editorial: Let’s all get out and Relay

The last weekend in April is coming around quickly.

Why does that matter, you ask? Well, that’s Relay weekend here in Garner and there are few things in our community’s life that should draw more support than the Relay for Life.

The event raises tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research and to support caregivers of those fighting the disease. All around Wake County and even the nation, people are giving up a Friday night and Saturday to help raise money to find a cure for the disease and to enable the American Cancer Society to continue providing its services.

The Relay matters to a lot of people. It should matter to us all. It’s highly unlikely anyone reading this has never been touched in some way by cancer. If you’ve never had to fight cancer personally, you’ve had a relative or a friend or a co-worker who has. Their suffering affects you and all those who know that person.

And while the impact of cancer affects us all in different ways, the impact is sure and certain and all too often, devastating.

And, considering those odds, who wouldn’t want to throw all their support behind efforts like the Garner Relay for Life.

At this point in the planning, teams are already working to raise their pre-Relay dollars. But there will be a lot of fundraising going on April 24 and 25, too.

So if you’re not on a team and you do want to see cancer reduced or, dare we say, eliminated, you have your chance that weekend to put your money where your hopes are.

How much you give is not imporant. That you give something is important.

And, here’s one other thing to keep in mind. Not only are your financial contributions important, your presence is important. As cancer survivors make their way around the track for the first lap of the night, you should be part of the throng that applauds them. You should be there in full throat, letting them know you are glad they fought the good fight and won. Even if you don’t know many of the people taking that lap, you can rest assured that your presence, collectively with all the others who have joined you, means an awful lot to the people who beat cancer and, especially to those still fighting.

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