Relay Rewards
The ACS Rewards program is our way of thanking you for your creativity and passion! Earn points for every dollar raised and you can redeem those points for Relay products and swag.
Relay Rewards
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When I was ten years old, my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Being so young, I had no idea what horror would soon impact my family. Despite catching it at stage one, my mother’s journey would not be easy. She was HER-2 positive, meaning she tested positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells. My mother faced a long and exhausting process to regain her life including a double mastectomy, immediate reconstruction with natural tissue flaps, chemotherapy, radiation, and more.
A very private person, my mother shared her journey with almost no one. Only our family knew of her condition. If she ever felt well enough to leave the house during treatment, she wore her wig. And no one knew. I never saw my mother bald or with just a hat on. Despite being so sick and terrified, she remained strong for her two young children and never allowed us to see her weak or vulnerable. Somehow, regarless of what was she was enduring, one of her biggest concerns was ensuring my brother and I continued our lives as per usual. She got a sitter to take us to our activites and do the things she typically would to care for us, while my father worked to pay for the expensive medical bills and support our family. How she was able to make it through such a scary and difficult time with so few people helping her along the way is truly inspiring. My mother is the embodiment of courage and perseverance and she is my hero.
Today, my mother is almost 10 years cancer free. However, not a day goes by where she is not affected by what happened to her. She remains on a breast cancer preventative medication called tamoxifen. This medicine inhibits her typical day to day life causing her bone and joint pain among other side effects. Additionally, doctor’s appointments become extreme sources of anxiety. Simple checkups are now a new opportunity for another diagnosis. Every time she feels a new pain or finds a new lump on her body, the question is immediately - Did my cancer come back? It is difficult to imagine the post traumatic stress that comes with enduring a journey like hers. And now, my mother must be tested to see if she has the hereditary gene for breast cancer, which could be passed to me. So while my mother may be cancer free now, the journey is never really over.
My mother is just one. She is one of the many people I personally know affected by cancer. She is one in the millions of people diagnosed each year. But she is a survivor. And everyday, we count our blessings, because not everyone is. This is why I've joined Relay For Life: to celebrate survivors, remember those we've lost, and to offer support to anyone in our community who's been affected by it.
The funds I'm raising will sustain critical research and provide services for people trying to cope with their cancer experience. Every dollar makes a difference, so I'm asking you to please donate today. |
If you are unable to donate online, please print a donation form to mail in your donation.
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When I was ten years old, my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Being so young, I had no idea what horror would soon impact my family. Despite catching it at stage one, my mother’s journey would not be easy. She was HER-2 positive, meaning she tested positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein promotes the growth of cancer cells. My mother faced a long and exhausting process to regain her life including a double mastectomy, immediate reconstruction with natural tissue flaps, chemotherapy, radiation, and more.
A very private person, my mother shared her journey with almost no one. Only our family knew of her condition. If she ever felt well enough to leave the house during treatment, she wore her wig. And no one knew. I never saw my mother bald or with just a hat on. Despite being so sick and terrified, she remained strong for her two young children and never allowed us to see her weak or vulnerable. Somehow, regarless of what was she was enduring, one of her biggest concerns was ensuring my brother and I continued our lives as per usual. She got a sitter to take us to our activites and do the things she typically would to care for us, while my father worked to pay for the expensive medical bills and support our family. How she was able to make it through such a scary and difficult time with so few people helping her along the way is truly inspiring. My mother is the embodiment of courage and perseverance and she is my hero.
Today, my mother is almost 10 years cancer free. However, not a day goes by where she is not affected by what happened to her. She remains on a breast cancer preventative medication called tamoxifen. This medicine inhibits her typical day to day life causing her bone and joint pain among other side effects. Additionally, doctor’s appointments become extreme sources of anxiety. Simple checkups are now a new opportunity for another diagnosis. Every time she feels a new pain or finds a new lump on her body, the question is immediately - Did my cancer come back? It is difficult to imagine the post traumatic stress that comes with enduring a journey like hers. And now, my mother must be tested to see if she has the hereditary gene for breast cancer, which could be passed to me. So while my mother may be cancer free now, the journey is never really over.
My mother is just one. She is one of the many people I personally know affected by cancer. She is one in the millions of people diagnosed each year. But she is a survivor. And everyday, we count our blessings, because not everyone is. This is why I've joined Relay For Life: to celebrate survivors, remember those we've lost, and to offer support to anyone in our community who's been affected by it.
The funds I'm raising will sustain critical research and provide services for people trying to cope with their cancer experience. Every dollar makes a difference, so I'm asking you to please donate today.
Your support allows the American Cancer Society to continue:
Fighting cancer in city halls, statehouses, and Congress by elevating the patient voice to advance policy change through the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
Ensuring no one feels alone at any point on their cancer journey, from prevention to survivorship, and, for some, the end of life.
Investing in breakthrough science to find more - and better - treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve patients' quality of life.
Ensuring that all people have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. ACS and ACS CAN believe all people should have a fair and just opportunity to live a longer, healthier life free from cancer regardless of how much money they make, the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, gender identity, their disability status, or where they live.
Thank you for fueling the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors for fueling the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer.
Relay Rewards
The ACS Rewards program is our way of thanking you for your creativity and passion! Earn points for every dollar raised and you can redeem those points for Relay products and swag.
Relay RewardsThis isn’t what I wanted.
Cancer has touched all of us in some way. And we want to stop this disease in its tracks. We'll spend the next few weeks fundraising for the American Cancer Society. Then, on the day of the event, we'll honor the lives lost to cancer, celebrate survivors, and support the caregivers who so selflessly help others.
Together, we'll be a part of making a difference in this important cause.