14 Relay Poems
14 Relay Poems
14 Relay Poems
http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/19-Luminaria_Ceremony_Script_By_Group_Example.doc
http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/19-Luminaria_Ceremony_Script_Read_All_Names_Example.doc
• Here is the candle lighting poem where you acknowledge survivors and those who have lost their battle by
how they are related to the participants. This can be used at a team captains meeting. It is the SAME
poem that is found above in the
http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/19-Luminaria_Ceremony_Script_By_Group_Example.doc
The volunteer leading the session asks individuals in the audience to light the candles as they are called:
* If you are a cancer survivor, please stand & light your candle from the votive.
* If you have a relative who is a survivor, stand & light your candle for the votive candle.
* If you have lost a spouse to cancer, stand & light your candle from the glow of one of the candles.
* If you have lost a child to cancer, stand & light your candle from the glow of another.
* If you have lost a parent to cancer, stand & light your candle from the glow of one of the candles.
* If you have lost a grandparent to cancer, please stand & light your candle from the glow of one of
the candles.
* If you have lost another family member to cancer, stand & light your candle form the glow of
another.
* If you have lost a friend to cancer, stand and light your candle from the glow of another.
All of your candles are lit because we have all been affected by cancer!
Every person in this room!
And we are doing something about it.
We are turning our sorrows into celebration and converting our loss into action. We have put faces
and voices on this disease. WE know we have made a difference, and we will continue to make a
difference. Out goal is a Cancer Free World.
Now, as we extinguish our candles, remember to always keep the flame of hope burning in your
heart.
http://www.pipestonestar.com/relayforlife/about.htm
Gordy's Vision
Dr. Klatt had a purpose when he began the 24-hour Relay in 1985. The significance of daytime and
nighttime coincides with the journey that all cancer patients go through.
It's daylight. Life is wonderful. You're healthy, happy and looking forward to the future. You're
looking forward to your child's dance recital or taking your child to Disney World for a vacation.
You're looking forward to the new house you just bought. you have a new dream job that you're
thrilled about.
You hear those words "You've got cancer", or worse, your child had cancer. Your life has suddenly
become very dark. You don't know what the outcome will be. You feel there is no hope in sight. You
start your treatments. You're nauseous and you have no hair. You're exhausted from caring for your
child and from the agony knowing there's nothing you can do to make him healthy again. You couldn't
possible feel any worse.
Until...
The sun starts to rise. The tumor is shrinking. Your treatments are working. You're getting your
appetite back. Your child feels well enough to go out and play for just a few minutes. There is hope.
It is now daylight and you're in remission. You have your life back. You've made it through the night
and the darkness. you celebrate life in the daylight knowing that the darkness of nighttime is behind
you.
Tonight we are all here to celebrate the POWER OF PURPLE, the power to help the American
Cancer Society achieve its mission to eliminate cancer.
The POWER OF CANCER is a dread force causing pain and suffering everywhere. All of us here
tonight have been touched by cancer, giving us the POWER OF DETERMINATION to do something
to ease the burden of this terrible disease. We empower ourselves by participating in the Relay
For Life to raise funds for research to find a cure, and by raising awareness of cancer prevention,
early detection, treatment and patient services provided by the American Cancer Society.
Equally important tonight is the POWER OF REMEMBRANCE, for we must never forget those whose
lives have been lost to cancer and those courageous survivors who inspire us all.
We will now conduct a candle-lighting ceremony to symbolize the POWER OF HOPE as we honor
those who have had or now have cancer. May all of us here, who represent the POWER OF
PURPLE, continue in our common goal to fight against cancer.
If someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer in the past year, light a candle.
If someone you know has died of cancer many years ago, light a candle.
If someone you know is undergoing treatment for cancer now, light a candle.
If there is a very special person you would like to honor, light a candle.
Now would someone at each table lift the purple can that is located in the
center of each table? This purple candle represents HOPE. Please light this
candle and watch, as HOPE burns brightly.
“We all come to Relay For Life because we are looking for HOPE.
One day soon, I will read a different story, one that does not talk of HOPE, but of a CURE:
“C” is for Cancer, the disease that has joined Polio, Smallpox and Cholera as largely a thing of the past.
“U” is for Us, the people who were a big part of making this possible.
“R” is for Remember, because though we have eradicated this disease, we still remember those who have battled this demon.
AND
“E” is for “Eradicate – NO ONE GETS CANCER ANYMORE! We have WON this battle!
But Until that day, we all battle on. We all unite against cancer. We all walk thru the night, because “THERE IS NO FINISH
LINE UNTIL WE FIND A CURE”!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“There are other versions of the HOPE poem. This is an amalgamation of some different ones” (Ramesh
Moorthy, Baltimore, MD)
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot erode faith.
It cannot destroy peace.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot erode the spirit.
It cannot conquer the soul.
I relay for a world in which no parent will ever again hear the dreaded words "your child has cancer"
I relay for a world in which no husband will ever again hear the frightening words "your wife has cancer"
I relay for a world in which no wife will ever again hear the desolate words "I'm sorry but your husband
has cancer"
I relay for a word in which no child will ever hear - "I so sorry that you lost your mom to cancer"
I relay for a world in which no child will ever hear - "Your father fought hard to beat cancer...”
A day will come where we will finally cure cancer.
Soon after that - cancer will be like a cold.
And on another day – A GREAT DAY! - cancer will be eradicated - wiped from the face of this earth.
That day - there will be NO MORE CANCER!
• I Walked For You, I Walked For Me – Here is a poem written by breast cancer survivor Jackie
Rutkovich found at the following site:
http://www.ibcmemorial.org/565.html
It was quoted in an article by Andrew Hirsch, who is a Staff Writer for the Coshocton Tribune in
Coshocton, Ohio (date of article: Saturday, May 15, 2004)
http://www.bporch.net/relayforlife.htm
Walk together,
and have faith together...
We can bring hope
into their lives
Please come together, for them
For Relay for life
Since a butterfly can make no sound, the butterfly can not reveal
The wish to anyone but the Great Spirit who sees and hears all.
So, according to legend, by making a wish and giving the butterfly its freedom,
The wish will be taken to the heavens to be granted
Ruben Perez’s Poem written to be read by his girlfriend when he passed away – Ruben Perez
battled cancer for some time, and from what others say – handled it with aplomb… His girlfriend
Terri had the following to say in his eulogy: “Ruben and I dated for two years. We met in July 2003
but didn’t start dating till December of that year. I had taken him to get my car worked on. He was
recommended by a friend. The first day I met him we hit it off. We were cracking jokes while he
worked on my car. It felt like I’d known him for years. There hasn’t ever been anyone like that for
me. We started exchanging emails, email jokes and this went on for months as just friends. Then on
Dec. 28, 2003 all that changed. Humor was a huge part of our relationship. I remember his 50th
birthday was a great memory for both of us. And on Valentine’s Day 2004 it snowed and stuck as he
left my house in the morning for his. He immediately took to my dog and loved him. He taught him
tricks, bathed him weekly, and would give him treats. They bonded as if Ruben was his dad. Ruben
remembered dates like you wouldn’t believe and could spin a tale with so much detail. He was so
considerate, sensitive, funny, generous, and protective of me, fun, and would help anyone. He helped a
lot of people through the years.
He had been with his company 19 years, the latter years as a supervisor having been promoted twice.
When he got sick some of his co-workers took up a collection for him. He made his employees’ shifts
easier with his joking attitude, always cracking jokes yet he was a great supervisor. He was a teacher
and taught people many things. He rarely missed a day of work and even when he got sick and I would
http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/14-Relay_Poems.doc Updated: 4/17/10 Page 7 of 14
beg him not to go to work because he was in pain he would try to work anyway. He was always bringing
me things from the company that he’d find, little treasures that people would throw out that he knew
I would like. We made a lot of plans. Going to Hawaii, getting married, maybe having a child. He
always wanted to have kids of his own. We had a lot of plans. He always wanted a Harley and after he
was diagnosed he was going to get one but never did. He loved to cook, loved animals, and kids. There
was so much to him and I know I’ll forget to tell you many things. He would call me “Silly Bunny,”
“Babycakes,” and “Mamasita.” I would call him “My Gingerbread Man.” He was a romantic, always
surprising me with something. He was a good listener. One of the last things he told me before he
died was that I had his heart. He wrote me tons of love notes and love letters. When his ex-
stepdaughter had her first child in October it was his pride and joy. He told me often that when he
held the baby his pain went away.
Shortly before he died he told me that he had found his purpose in life – To spread the word about
God who he had found to kids, teenagers, his best friend and that maybe I could help him do that. He
told me that when he recovered from cancer that he would be a different person and he always said,
“I’m going to beat this thing.”
He always gave me compliments. He taught me a lot of things. He used to ask me, “Will you still love
me when I’m old and gray?” He enjoyed going to Possum Kingdom Lake and Benbrook Lake to fish,
swim, and boat. His favorite songs were the Hawaiian version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and
“What A Wonderful World” from the “Good Morning Vietnam” movie soundtrack. When he got sick I
used to visit him at work as usual, only this time we would put some of his favorite songs in his CD
player in his car and hold hands while talking about the future as the music played. After he was
diagnosed he had a spiritual experience and spiritual awakenings along and along and he would share
them with me. It was incredible to witness. I feel so lucky to have known him. So many didn’t know
how great he was.”
Ruben Perez
Relay For Life starts at dusk and ends at the next day's morning. The light and darkness of the day and
night parallel the physical effects, emotions and mental state of a cancer patient while undergoing
treatment.
The Relay begins when the sun is setting. This symbolizes the time that the person has been diagnosed of
having cancer. The days are getting darker and this represents the cancer patient's state of mind as they
feel that their life is coming to an end.
A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of the bitter battle against a deadly disease, a battle fought by
more than 1.3 million new patients each year.
The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless tears of personal anguish shed by the patient and
those shed by family members and friends who have lost a loved one.
The glass is inverted in memory of those people who are not here to join our celebration of successes.
But, the candle represents the light of hope that lives in the hearts of all of us -- hope represented by
cancer survivors and the hope for a cure discovered as a result of the detailed work of the medical
profession made able through funds generated through events such as Relay For Life.
As the evening goes on, it gets colder and darker, just as the emotions of the cancer patient does. Between
1:00a.m. and 2:00a.m. represents the time when the cancer patient starts treatment. They become
exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on, possibly wanting to give up. As a participant in the Relay, you
have been walking and feel much the same way. You cannot stop or give up, just as the cancer patient cannot
stop or give up.
Around 4:00a.m. to 5:00a.m., symbolizes the coming of the end of treatment for the cancer patient. Once
again they are tired, but they know they will make it.
The sun rising represents the end of treatment for the cancer patient. They see the light at the end of the
tunnel and know that life will go on. The morning light brings on a new day, full of life and excitement for
new beginnings for the cancer patient. As a participant, you will feel the brightness of the morning and know
that the end of the Relay is close at hand.
When you leave the Relay, think of the cancer patient leaving their last treatment. Just as you are
exhausted and weak, so is that person after treatment.
Relay For Life is an overnight event because "cancer never sleeps." Relay For Life starts at dusk and ends in
the early morning hours of the following day. The light and darkness of the day and night parallel the
physical efforts, emotions, and mental state of a cancer patient while undergoing treatment. The Relay
begins when the sun is setting as this symbolizes the time that the person has been diagnosed with cancer.
As the evening gets darker, this represents the cancer patient's state of mind as they feel that life is
coming to an end. The evening gets cooler and darker, just as emotions of the cancer patient do. Around 1 am
to 2 am somewhat represents the time when a cancer patient starts treatments. They become exhausted,
sometimes sick, not wanting to go on and often times wanting to give up. During these hours in a Relay,
participants feel much this same way while walking, but they cannot stop or give up, just as the cancer
patient does not stop or give up. By 4 am to 5 am this is symbolizing the time that the treatment comes to an
end. Once again they are tired and weak, but they hope they will make it. The sun rising represents the end
of treatment for the cancer patient. The morning light brings the new day full of hope of being cured. So do
the participants of the Relay, feel the brightness of the morning and know that the end of the Relay is close
at hand. When the participants leave the Relay, they can think of the cancer patients leaving their last
treatment, and just as the participants are exhausted and weak, so is the cancer patient. But remember;
never give up on the hope that one day, with everyone's help, there will be a cure
We call your attention to the small table that occupies a place of dignity and honor. It is set for one,
symbolizing the fact that some of our loved ones are missing from this gathering. They have been diagnosed
with cancer, and they are some of the names and faces behind luminaries.
The chair is empty. Many of those who fought the battle with cancer are no longer with us, but rather than
mourning their loss, we choose to celebrate their life.
These people are unable to be with their loved ones and families now, so let us join together to recognize and
honor them, and to bear witness to their struggle and their memory.
The table is small, symbolizing the frailty of a single patient, sometimes alone in the fight against his or her
disease.
The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the medical profession: doctors, nurses, and researchers who help fight
the battle for life.
The single rose in the vase signifies the enduring love of their families and friends and the strength of a
patients' will to fight the disease that ultimately claimed many of them.
The pink ribbon on the vase represents the ribbons worn on the lapels of millions who support a continued
search for a cure not only for breast cancer, but for other cancers as well -- cancers that are expected to
kill over half a million people in the United States this year.
A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of the bitter battle against a deadly disease, a battle fought by
more than 1.3 million new patients each year.
The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless tears of personal anguish shed by the patient and
those shed by family members and friends who have lost a loved one.
The glass is inverted in memory of those people who are not here to join our celebration of successes.
But, the candle represents the light of hope that lives in the hearts of all of us -- hope represented by
cancer survivors and the hope for a cure discovered as a result of the detailed work of the medical
profession made able through funds generated through events such as Relay For Life.
Today, we honor our survivors and remember those who we have lost.
But every day, every year, there is progress.
Yesterday’s death sentence is today’s prognosis for a full recovery.
Yesterday’s HOPE is today’s CURE!
And so to honor those battling cancer with us today, we present each survivor with a seedling that they can
“grow” with.
Each day, remember how far this tree has come, and how far you have come.
Each day, remember that this tree was once a seedling, and remember how you were once at the beginning of
your treatments.
Each day, remember that curing cancer has become an eventuality, not impossibility
And today we plant that tree that, as you grow, will grow with you!
Seeds of Hope – Seedling Poem #2 – This is a poem that comes from Dori at the Summerville SC
Relay For Life – what a great example! They had this poem attached to seedlings that the survivors
could plant. Dori says “The librarian at Gregg Middle took my email and put an awesome border
around the poem. The Girl Scout Troop 188 bagged up the trees and tied the poem on to each “small”
seedling! We had 200 seedlings and 90 survivors – so the teams were able to take some back to
“home base” and give out.”
Can be done
Celebration of YOU!
• http://www.angelfire.com/pa2/poetrypage/cpage.html
• http://www.thenewhealthfind.com/Health/ConditionsandDiseases/Cancer/PersonalPages/
Relay For Life was originally conceived as a 24 hour event because cancer patients battle the disease around
the clock. When we relay, we go on whether it is day or night, rain or shine... NO MATTER WHAT! Cancer
patients don't get a day off from the disease, so why should we?