At Relay for Life, I led the prayer at the candle lighting ceremony. Since we faced the soreboard this year, every line of the prayer came right back to me a second later. Strange feeling to hear your words coming back to you..

There were tears from many and there was joy from some. But over the dark track, as people lit their luminaries, a solitary, white balloon rose into the air. It never made it above the lights in the stadium. That balloon represents the battle against cancer. We get so close to a cure, so close to erradicating cancer, but then another death, another loss comes into the mix.

We must continue the fight. People around the country should continue to give and to research and to fight. Survivors can encourage others, and everyone can comfort those who greive the loss of their loved ones. Together, with God's help, we can defeat the dreaded cancer.