Darrel's Memorial Playground
Connect With Us:
  • Home
  • What is Neuroblastoma?
    • Research Updates
  • About Us
    • Fundraising
    • Related Sites
  • Blogs
  • Quotes
  • Events
  • Images
    • Awareness Images
    • Neuroblastoma Awareness
    • Seasonal Images
    • A Parent's Journey
    • Videos

June 29/08 - Relay 2008 Recap

6/16/2011

0 Comments

 
Relay 2008 Recap
Category: Life 

This past Friday, the Relay For Life was held in Fergus, and it was the first 
time for "Team Darrel".  After almost three months of going to meetings and 
planning, the big day finally arrived, and what a beautiful day it turned out
to be.  All week long, the weather reports had been most unfavourable, but
Friday afternoon was very sunny and quite warm.  Setting up our base site went 
smoothly, though the girls were constantly being distracted by the free popcorn 
and cotton candy being provided.

Led by the Fergus Pipe Band, the emotional Cancer Survivors Lap around the 
track was  a large part of the official opening of the Relay.  Seeing so  many
people proudly wearing their yellow shirts walking the course reminded all  in
attendance why we were there.  Of course, I didn't need any help remembering 
why I was present, but the Lap was something to behold regardless.

About 10PM, it was dark enough for the lighting of the Luminaries.  For those 
unfamiliar with them, luminaries are specially designed, flame resistant white 
bags that line around the entire Relay course.  They are purchased "In Hounour" 
or "In Memory" of loved ones who have been touched by cancer.  There were 
several for Darrel, and it was something to see them finally lit up.  The track 
took on a completely different atmosphere once all the hundreds and hundreds of 
them began to glow in the warm summer night.  Many participants slowed their 
pace to read the names of those lost at this point.  I stood back a bit from 
Darrel's luminaries for a time and was surprised, saddened, and very proud of 
some of the comments that were made as people passed by.  They didn't know that I 
was there, or who I was, which made their words more special and meaningful to me.

 As the theme for the night was "Say Aidos To Cancer", many of the team sites 
(and members) were decorated with all things Mexico.  Some were quite
elaborate,  others not so much so, but almost every one of them had a Pinata! 
The girls had went to the grocery store earlier with me in the day to select
what candy would  go into each of their individual ones.  Kira named her burro
figure 'Donkey'  from Shrek, and Lauren's bull was 'Benny' from Dora the
Explorer.  They rather  impatiently waited until I gave the official go-ahead,
and then began gleefully  pounding the heck out of them!  

The last time I purchased a Pinata was for Kira's 7th birthday party back in 
2004.  She had all the girls in her class over, and they took turns attacking 
it.  Darrel sat in anticipation of the falling candy close by, far too close by 
as it turned out.  Even though we told him to move back, as some of the girls 
swings were wild and all over the place, he continued to inch himself slowly 
forward.  Darrel would eventually take a wicked wack to the head that would 
leave a bump for over a week.  Kids just never seem to learn that sometimes, 
parents DO actually know what we are talking about. 

The next big surprise would come just before midnight, when it was announced 
that Team Darrel had raised the most money in pledges, and we would be going to 
the VIP Tent.  The Falcon Lounge (named after sponsoring firm)  had everything 
you could possibly want in the middle of soccer field and more.  Big screen
TVs, very comfy sofas, video games, and a well stocked fridge, and lots of
pizza and other assorted munchies.

Though it was fitting and seemed right, the fact that the movie they were 
playing was "Tranformers", and the video game was Shrek SuperSlam did knock me 
off balance at first.  The organizers had no way of knowing what a Tranformers 
fan Darrel was, and that it was the last movie I would ever take him too, but 
there it was.  As for Shrek, he would always want to play that with me, as he 
knew he would probably win.  I could often beat him in MarioKart or a few other 
games, but try as I might, something about Shrek  always seemed to escape  me.
The strange irony that these would somehow be presented unknowingly to us as  a
reward while operating under Darrel's name was not lost by myself or a few of the others.

Shortly after we returned to our site, in the distance we could see lightning 
and hear the rumblings of thunder.  Soon the storm would begin, and the rain 
would remain with us for much of the remainder of the Relay.  As the rain came 
pouring down, many people scattered for cover, some left altogether, while 
others soldiered on with their walk. Through it all, the majority of the 
luminaries continued to burn on, as defiantly and against the odds as Darrel
did with his battle against cancer.  It didn't matter that the track was now a
pool of mud, they just kept on going.  

The storm would continue off and on over the next 4 hours, but finally let up 
just before the Relay was to come to an end.  By that point, there weren't too 
many of us left, but the mood was still rather upbeat considering what we had 
just been sent from Mother Nature.  Though our clothes and possessions were 
soaked, the weather had failed to dampen the spirit and reason for why had put 
ourselves in that position in the first place.

 It was truly an amazing night and experience, and I'm very happy and proud 
how our Team worked together and how the entire event unfolded.  I hope we will 
be able to enter and achieve similar success next year too.  Coming in first 
overall was great, but it's not about us, and in no way should be.  In total, 
the Fergus Relay raised close to $42,000 from only 21 teams, which is 
outstanding. 

Thanks again to everyone who support any and all of Team Darrel over the past 
couple of months.  Without you, none of what we were able to accomplish would 
have been possible.  At this time I'd like to give special thanks to:

St. Joseph Catholic School - The school community has been very generous to 
our family since the entire ordeal began, and came through once again with a 
$500 pledge for Team Darrel.  

Trevor and Kim, Darryl, and Sarah - Over the night, these friends brought in coffee
and donuts from Tim Hortons with out team.  It certainly helped to keep us going.

Janet - For listening and sharing of memories of those we have lost.

Deanna and Anne - Though not at the Realy in person, made a contribution in 
their own way to the event, to the fight against cancer, and of course...to Darrel.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    The majority of all these entries were written by Darrel's father, Stephen.  For those that are not, efforts have been made to give proper credit where it is due.

    The bulk of the posts are in the June 2011 Archives Section, as that is when I transferred them over to this site.  Category Tags should allow you to find entries easier.

    I've tried to correct spacing issues on many of the entries, as most of the older ones have been copied from different sites I've used in the past. I apologize if some have been overlooked.

    Categories

    All
    Dads In Grief
    Life 2007
    Life 2008
    Life 2009
    Life 2010
    Life 2011
    Life 2012
    Life 2013
    Life 2014
    Life 2015
    Life 2016
    Life 2017
    Life 2018
    Life 2019
    Life 2020
    Life 2021
    Life 2022
    May 26th
    Sept 9th
    Writing And Poetry

    Archives

    September 2022
    May 2022
    September 2021
    May 2021
    September 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    September 2019
    May 2019
    September 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    May 2017
    September 2016
    May 2016
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.