The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Relay for Life is worth every step
By Martha Forner
PUBLISHED: May 29, 2008
It's 2 a.m. and the rain is starting to ease off.
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My feet hurt as I continue to do endless circles around a blue track. I'm part of the Relay for Life at the Chelsea High School track and as tired as I am, I am glad to be a part of this fund-raiser for cancer research.
Everyone here has a story to tell, friends and family that are ill...miracles in the making...but at 2 in the morning I am only thinking of my feet. I am starting my second hour in a row, but I have already participated in the Cowboy hour so averaging three miles per hour I have walked six miles and I have three more to go until my relieve arrives.
As I come to the straight away I gratefully step off the track and walk along side of it on the turf and my feet sigh in relief at the feel of the soft squishiness underneath.
My friends, the Hergenreders, have been telling me how wonderful the new stadium is, but this is the first time that I have seen it. It is a marvel! The seats all have a wonderful view, but I am blown away by the feel of the field itself. As I come to the curve in the track I step back onto the track itself and I marvel at the texture of it. It is not slippery at all even with the rain we have had for the past hour.
My step has noticeably slowed and my secondary sponsor, who is walking with me, has considerately slowed along with me. Tom of Traveling Trees happens to be my husband and he agreed to join with me as our primary sponsor's team Farm Bureau's The Royal Blue Racers. Our Team Captain is Rick Eder and we walk in honor of our sister-in-law Ruth Horning (Rick's mother-in-law) and other friends and family. We have family from as far as southern Indiana taking turns here and I wonder how many others participating at this event are from out of state.
Just when I think that I must stop to take a rest, I hear a young man's voice break out in song along with the sound of a guitar. Live Music! I don't know who he is but his wonderful voice and guitar playing help me make another three miles. The 23 people left on the track were too tired to give him the applause that he deserved but I would like to let him know that he is appreciated. The beat was just right to help tired feet go another round and his voice carried us all the way to 3 a.m.!
It's 3 a.m. and my relief is here, time for the egg lap. You carry a hard boiled egg around the track on a spoon without touching it or dropping it and you get extra points. I am unclear what the points are for but I am determined to win some for my team. I can do one more lap! I walk slow. I am focused on my egg. I am dead last! But I win points along with my other team members who took first and middle place.
Finally I sit down in the bleachers and I doze... dreaming of hard boiled omelets, strumming guitars, and Ruth.
God Rest Her Soul.
Martha Forner was a member of the Royal Blue Racers, Best Rookie Team, at last weekend's Relay for Life in Chelsea.
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