I am a sophomore at the University of Scranton but I live in Hicksville. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer my freshman year in college. It was the worst news I had ever heard in my entire life. I was three hours away from home and was not sure how to cope with this news. I thought about dropping out of school but instead I chose to fight back. I became involved with Relay for Life on my college campus.
Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s biggest fundraiser for patient services and cancer research. I like to describe it as a block party plus a walk-a-thon and a roller coaster of emotions. It’s a wonderful event where a community can come together to celebrate, remember and fight back.
I was selected to be on the Pennsylvania Collegiate Task Force team, which is a team composed of students from Pennsylvania that get together and hold conferences for fellow college students that have Relay for Life on their campus. Because of my position on the Task Force I was invited to attend a National Collegiate Summit in Dallas, TX. And while I was there I had a wonderful idea to hold a Relay for Life in my hometown of Hicksville!
I chose my high school friend, Kristen Morrow, as my partner. We set up a meeting with the American Cancer Society in Syosset and got started! We are still waiting to hear from the location we hope to have it at. However, we have scheduled our first informational Hicksville Relay for Life Meeting for Thursday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hicksville Public Library’s Community Room. We have also created a blog where people can access information – http://hicksvillerelay.blogspot.com/. For more information, email meganrelay@yahoo.com.
Kristen and I want to bring the community of Hicksville – and all other communities on Long Island – together to celebrate life. Cancer has affected many people and our dream is that one day this world will be cancer free. We will not stop fighting until there is a cure. We are hoping that through our Relay for Life we can continue the fight and reach a day when no person has to hear the words “You have cancer.”
Thank you.
Megan Stewart
