Tags
Baden, Canadian Cancer Society, cancer, lung cancer, Relay for Life, Relay2012, Waterloo-Oxford, Wayne Goodmurphy
It is my privilege to participate in this year’s Relay for Life at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School in Baden, Ontario. I wanted to take the opportunity to share with you why I felt led to participate in this event.
In July of 2009, a few short months after the birth of our first child, my father-in-law lost his battle with small-cell lung cancer. Wayne Goodmurphy was a man who loved his family, loved the outdoors, and loved to work with his hands. His commitment to all of us was evidenced repeatedly by the ways he prepared for the inevitable while he was still healthy enough to do so.
It was painful to watch the strength and vitality drain from such a strong man over the year he battled his disease, but life has a strange way of mixing tragedy with hope. My strongest memories of that time are the moments when I watched Dad savour every second he had to spend with his newborn grand-daughter. It was said over and over again during that time (and since) that our daughter, Éowyn, arrived at just the right time; she made it possible for all of us to endure the trial before us! Wayne endured it like a true champ and we will not forget his fight!
In 2010, my wife Brae participated in Relay for Life in honour of her father. This year it is my pleasure to do the same. Please give generously to the Canadian Cancer Society in honour of someone you know who has been affected by this all-too-common disease. I truly believe that the skill, ingenuity, and technical ability of medical professionals and researchers can pave the way for a cure IN OUR LIFETIME! That’s a cause worthy of our support!
Here is a link to my participant’s page where online donations can be made.
I am grateful and honoured that you would take a moment to read this post. Thanks.
– Paul