Light the Night 2010

I've been struggling with this post ever since we finished the walk last Saturday. I just can't find adequate words to express my feelings. The whole process of raising money for our "Light the Night" walk (LTN) and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and then participating in the actual walk has been so emotional for me. I have sat down to write this post several times and then procrastinated and let it slide by for another day. Well, here the post is - its definitely not anything earth shattering, but I hope I can express a little bit of how I feel.

I think the best way for me to start is to share a song with you. Please indulge me and take a few minutes out of your day to listen to it, so you can understand my feelings.

The song is: "I Run For Life" by Melissa Etheridge. Listen to it again, even if you already know it. I first heard it when my sister-in-laws and I participated in the Race for the Cure (for breast cancer) in April after Elena was diagnosed. They play it at the "starting line" and I was absolutely overcome the first time I heard it. The raw emotions from Elena's diagnosis were still pretty fresh and it was all I could do to keep it together and not start sobbing right there in the middle of all those thousands of people. It is an amazing song. Although it is talking specifically about breast cancer, I feel like it is applicable to people dealing with any and all types of cancer. The reason I want you to listen to it now is because it sums up a lot of my feelings - better than I could ever say with my own words, I think - about the LTN walk and why we wanted to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

(for some reason, it keeps running blank until about 7.5 minutes - the actual song is only 4.5 minutes long)

I hope you can feel the incredible power of the message of that song. I especially love the last verse: "And someday if they tell you about it- if the darkness knocks on your door: Remember her. Remember me. We will be running as we have before. Running for answers. Running for more. I run for hope.... I run for your mother, your sister, your daughter, your wife (I'd add: your granddaughter/son, your husband, your father, your son, your brother, neice, nephew, etc.) I run for you and for me, my friend. I run for life."

I LOVE that. Love it. That's why we did all this and will continue to with the LLS and other great organizations. We certainly never, in a MILLION years thought that OUR DAUGHTER would have cancer. Can you imagine being told your child/husband/mom/brother, etc. or even you have cancer? It's inconceivable until you experience it. I think we all think that we are above it - that its a sad thing other people go through, but not something we'll ever have to personally deal with. I know that's how we felt.

But, like the song says, "Someday if they tell you about it - if the darkness knocks on your door"-we will be here working hard to support cancer awareness and research and working to find a cure. Just like so many people before us have. They are the reason we are where we are today. The reason we have a bright future before us. Elena's outlook looks bright because of the mercy of Lord and because of dedicated researchers, doctors, patients (some of whom lost their lives on experimental treatments), and generous donors and supporters like so many of you.

Thank you to so many of you who have helped tremendously to help us reach our fundraising goal. We raised over $3800! Isn't that incredible? That number is incredible to me. Every time I think about it, I am overwhelmed by the love and goodness and generosity of so many people. There is so much good in the world. And I truly say "we" raised over $3800 because I feel like Eric and I did so little - it was so many of you pulling together to help us by spreading the word to your friends and family, donating profits from your businesses, hosting bake sales, putting out donation jars, and donating your own hard-earned money - sometimes scraping together the little bit that was still hard to spare from your tight budgets. We are so touched by your generosity. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I can't express my gratitude. You truly are heroes to us. Thanks for supporting us and this wonderful cause. I hope you will be with us again next year.

We will continue to support the LLS and also will be getting involved with other cancer organizations and patient support organizations (i.e. Make-a Wish, Hope Kids, etc.). One of the things that this experience has taught us is that there are so many, many types of cancer affecting peoples lives and many of them don't have much awareness and are underfunded. We want to help in many ways.

And now, on to the walk!

We totally forgot our camera :) and so these pictures are courtesy of our unofficial photographer for the evening, the lovely and talented Christy.

Julie and Rob in their pre-walk orange (the "color" for leukemia). Thanks guys! We love to see orange!

The "starting line" balloon arch. It was called the Light the Night walk because it is held all over the country on fall evenings and walkers carry illuminated balloons - thus lighting the night. Supporters carry red balloons, survivors/patients carry white balloons, and people carry gold balloons in memory of loved ones who have lost their battle with blood cancer.

Lily and cousin Lincoln got to share a ride for part of the time. I think both of them ended up being carried. :)

Team Elena

The official shirt of Team Elena (big thanks to my mom for putting these together!)

Eric carried Elena the whole way. She wasn't feeling great that night. Pretty neat symbolism, I think- of her daddy carrying her and supporting her through her battle with Leukemia.

I love to see the walkers and balloons stretching around the corner. I was very touched seeing dozens of red balloons (supporters) surrounding one white balloon (survivors/patients). More great symbolism.

It was a wonderful night. This was OUR walk - a leukemia walk - and we're so glad we got to participate. Thanks so much to everyone who came and participated with us! I've told you this before, but it really meant SO MUCH to have you there with us. We can't wait for next year! As my sister-in-law Christy put it: Team Elena's not going anywhere. :)

***(I know there are lots of people who donated who don't read our blog. If you know of some of your friends and family who don't, please pass along the link to this post - http://myhoffmans.blogspot.com/2010/10/light-night-2010.html. Our blog is no longer private and I would love for all those who supported us to hear the recap and our thanks.)***