Relay for Life

Several weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me to do photos at this years Relay for Life for Sanpete County.  I was thrilled and honored that she asked me.  The plan however, was to do photos with 'Mater', the cute tow truck that is in Disney's Cars 2.  However, because he had been sitting on Gunnison's main street for 3 weeks, most of the supporters and participators had already had their photos taken with 'Mater'.  Kind of bummed.  But, I did go out and get some GREAT shots of supporters, survivors, current fighters, relayers.  It was an amazing night and an amazing opportunity to be part of such a wonderful cause.


Here are some photos from Relay for Life 2011.

 The Fielding kids.  My heart aches for these 5 kids.  Their mother has been battling cancer for the last 5+ years.  As I was speaking with one of the RFL committee members, she mentioned to me, they were hoping she was going to make it through the night.  Once this lap was done, they called out the next lap for cancer patients and care takers.  Bless her heart, Vicky was there.  She was being pushed in a wheel chair by her amazing husband, and was surrounded by her 5 beautiful kids.  She asked not to have her photo taken, which I can completely understand.  I haven't heard whether or not she is still with us, but my heart is very heavy for her kids.
***UPDATE***  Our community lost a wonderful lady and these 5 kids lost an amazing, strong mother over the weekend.  Heartbreaking.

 Behind the Fielding kids, was an amazing group of cancer survivors.  I still can't believe how many people I recognized in this group.  People I had NO CLUE were cancer survivors.  Truly inspirational.

 I LOVE THIS!!!!  There was a team from the "local Drag Queens" (really, to my knowledge, there are NO Drags here, which makes me love this even more)!  Theses young men, and I mean YOUNG MEN, like high school and middle school aged boys, were going around to EVERYONE, opening their purses asking for donations.  They seriously looked amazing!  I tried to get a shot of all of them together, however I could never gather them all up.

 Another one of my favorite images from the evening.  This super adorable little girl stopped right in front of me and took her shoes off.  She told her Mom, her new shoes were hurting her feet and she wasn't going any further.  It was the cutest thing.  She didn't even want to keep her shoes, she walked off, leaving her shoes behind.  Of course, her mother picked them up for her.  Just a priceless moment from some of the young supporters at RFL.

 She's a survivor!!!  I know her well, however, she didn't want her photo taken.

 All the cheerleaders from Gunnison Valley High had Vicky written on their legs or arms.  Very touching.  What an amazing support Vicky had.  I think I saw more people there supporting her, than anyone else...or at least supporters that were willing to show who they were there for.  Very. Touching.

 Our awesome LDS Missionaries even came out to support the American Cancer Society and relay.  These two young men...one word...HILARIOUS!!!  They were also there searching for people to teach the gospel to.  It was great!!!

 Ahh, the luminaries.  There were luminaries that went around the inside of the track.  The luminaries represented someone who either lost their battle with cancer, are survivors, or those who are currently battling cancer.  This luminary in particular, is of a young mother of 3 boys, who lost her battle with cancer just this last May.  Last year, her BFF started a fund raiser called Sanpete Gives Back, in honor of Amberly.  Sanpete Gives Back is now an annual fundraiser for a family in Sanpete County that will honor and give proceeds.  Also, Amberly was married to the brother of one of my high school friends.

 I'm not sure who this one is for, but I couldn't help but get a shot of it.  It honestly breaks my heart.

This luminary is in honor of one of my friends little boy, who had a rare form of eye cancer.  He actually has a prosthetic eye.  I've only seen photos of him, as he and his family live out of state; he is such a cute little boy!!!  This one's for you, Missy's Max-A-Moo!