August 10th. This is the first time this date will come and go without a hug or a phone call. You see it should have been my dad’s 64th birthday today. But instead of singing, laughing, and opening gifts, we’ll be looking for butterflies. Reading Grandpa Green. And planning for Relay for Life at the end of the month.
If you don’t know what Relay is — a fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society, please take a moment to watch the video on the right sidebar (I’m no longer compensated pennies for it, I just love it). This event is inspiring. Hopeful. Fun. Emotional. Powerful.
In the past, I’ve had so many friends say they’d love to be a part of Relay. So please consider this an open invitation — I’d love to have you join my sweet friend, Nancy, and my family. We’ll be part of a very small Relay — so small you can’t register online…though we’d love to help it grow! — in Washington Park in Burlingame on Saturday, August 25th (at 10am) through Sunday, August 26th (at 10am). Though it’s become a bit more challenging to go for 24 hours straight with kids, we’ll be there as much as we can manage. Our team captain, Nancy, will be there the whole, long night (after all, cancer doesn’t rest). So if you can swing by for 10 minutes or want to pitch your tent and enjoy the whole experience, let me know.
And if you can’t be there, but would like to honor a loved one with a luminaria during a truly beautiful ceremony (I think the suggested donation is $15 per), please let me know. You can email me at usingourwords (at) yahoo (dot) com to let me know if and how you’d like to be a part of this Relay for Life.
Neena says
August 10, 2012 at 12:21 pmIt is my son’s 7th birthday today. I’d love to make a donation in honor of your dad and all the birthday I hope my son will have.
Amy, Using Our Words says
August 10, 2012 at 7:50 pmHappy, happy birthday to your sweet, talented boy! What a lovely way to look at it. Thank you.
Nancy Garrick says
August 10, 2012 at 3:20 pmYour dad is surely missed. Especially by me at Relay. We’ll definitely be honoring such an inspirational man at Relay!
Thanks so much for spreading the word about our fledgling Relay for Life. To be mentioned in Using Your Words is a great honor, and will surely help to make our event a great success.
Thanks Team Mate, Amy!
Go Team Three C’s!
-Nancy
Amy, Using Our Words says
August 10, 2012 at 7:51 pmYou know my heart is bigger than my feet. Wait, not sure that came out right. What I mean is, I love this event and you and I’ll do my best to breathe as much life as possible into this event! xoxo
Vanessa says
August 21, 2012 at 12:12 pmHow do I go about making a donation to the team?
Amy says
August 21, 2012 at 7:35 pmThanks, Vanessa. You can send a check to me made out to the American Cancer Society. If you’d like a luminaria lit, people just include the message (In honor/memory of [name] Love, [your name]…or something like that). I’ll be thinking of you and your family this weekend!
Don and Connie Heim says
August 23, 2012 at 10:11 pmWe miss your dad so much! His smile and love for his family will always be remembered. We thought of him all day on his birthday and thought the stars were brighter that night… We will send a check to you to light a luminary in his memory from the Heims. We will be out of town but will be thinking of you during the Relay. Good luck!
Amy, Using Our Words says
August 26, 2012 at 9:43 pmWe were thinking of you guys and honoring you as well, Connie! Thanks for the very sweet note!