It was far too soon - Yet I will Continue the Legacy!

As I sit here in my house looking at the pile of papers from the ACS - the commitment papers to participate in Relay for Life this year. i shake my head in disbelief. Why did I choose to take on yet another commitment? Yet another thing on top of everything that I am already doing.

I look back to moments before at the Relay for Life Kick off and my new Friends Emma & Jeff. And as I sit there with no expectations other than learning about the cause that my own father loved so much and my mom worked after he passed on. They asked "Who will be the first team to sign up for Relay in Westlake?" I can't even begin to explain it, but I jumped out of my chair with excitement. Unsure of what I had to face ahead of me ad unsure of what had lifted me out of my seat - knowing in the back of my head that I still had so much to do for my own organization's survival.

So now, I am back home.... crying. I have no idea why I took this on, when I have so much already. And then the voice of my mother is above me "Your father loved the ACS, he volunteered for them for 5 years- two of those years he was battling his own cancer." Somewhere in the depth of my heart and my memories I knew that this step had to be taken, not only for myself and other survivors, but in memory of my father, who loved me as long as he could. U+If it was up to him, he never would have left my side, and I know this it true. So for you Dad, I have started TEAM UCAAN, because I want anyone and everyone who is affected by cancer to know that They CAN - UCAAN Make a difference by participating in these replay events!

So in memory of you Dad, I take this HUGE STEP, something bigger than what I am doing with UCAAB, something that YOU believed in, something that you supported, and something mom supported when you were gone. I Love and miss you dad. I wrote this small poem for you:

Memories, only picture pieces I can see
Memories, I learn and stories I hear
from those who told them to me
If only I had the real chance to know you
To see how much of me was in you
You loved me from what everyone else
could see, and I felt the same
You worked for the ACS NY, even before the disease
struck your life
But you didn't let it stop your fight
The options were null, you took it into
your own control - vitamins were the only way
You worked for ACS NY for 2 years until
the disease secummed your life.
You were strong and held on for 2 years
It was far too soon for you to go
Only January 26th of 83'
My daddy, I didn't even know you
It was too soon for you to go
When it all happened , mom was working for NYU Medical
center
and decided to do what you loved
She took your job at ACS
I don't remember your face, or your voice.
The only memories I have now are the stories & Pictures
But I know how much you loved me by smile on your
face as you looked at me in those pictures.
Here I am Remembering you
What else can I do
But remember you

And take your passion of working with ACS
and make it a part of my life.
Daddy I miss you and all I can do is
Remember You,
the way that you will always remember me.
You're missed. This one's for you Dad.

TEAM UCAAN
will be participating in the Relay for Life event for ACS in Westlake Village on Sat & Sun Aug 6th & 7th, 2010 at Oaks Christian High School
To Be a part of TEAM UCAAN, Contact Rachel Shur 805-479-1032 or UCAANorg@yahoo.com