Relay For Life

Volunteering at the Relay for Life at Central Michigan University as an undergraduate student is a rewarding experience. This organization provides countless incredible opportunities and assistance in regards to cancer research, patients, and to the families of those affected by the fight against or loss to cancer. An uncle of mine lost his battle to pancreatic cancer. His doctor told him he had three months to live at the time of his diagnosis, but fortunately was granted four. Another uncle lost his ongoing battle with colon cancer a few years later. His unfortunate circumstance was drawn out for nearly two years. Cancer takes the lives of countless individuals each year, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or geographic location. These reasons and experiences facilitated my desire to become involved with the Relay for Life and assisted my desire to fund-raise for the necessary research and support.
As a college student, financial insecurities hindered my ability donate considerable amounts of money myself. Instead, it was my pleasure to aid in the functioning of our booth at the relay. Snow cones, baked goods, and bracelets are some of the staple items our booth sold during …show more content…
The importance of support groups and communication became distinctly evident. My ability it address death and uncomfortable situations developed, allowing me to reach out to grieving friends and family in support. While individuals grieve in different ways, I discovered the importance of simply letting them know they have somebody willing to listen or even being there as company. Watching the survivors and the families of those lost sharing their stories has allowed me to communicate more effectively in regards to my own grief. I also acquired the understanding of how important fund-raising and support is to the organizations out there trying to make a