Catching Up

It has been over a week since my last blog post. A lot has happened in the past week.

We're going to rewind to Thursday and Friday, as I was prepping for Relay for Life.

First and foremost, I met and exceeded my goal of $750. I actually ended with more than $800, which is absolutely amazing. I spent all day Thursday and Friday running errands and making sure we had everything in order for Relay. I made signs, went to party city for decorations twice, and baked more than I've ever baked in one day, ever before. I baked over 4 dozens cupcakes and close to 100 cake pops.

Did somebody say Bake Sale?

Then before I knew it it was Saturday morning. We got our site set up and we were all decked out in neon and ready to rep the 80s. 

Our team, Notorious C.U.R.E. or "The Little Team that Could" raised over $3,500.  It was a great day or celebration, remembrance and lots of people fighting back! As an event, we raised over $111,000! Thank you to every one who was involved, no matter the amount of involvement!

After Relay, bright and early Sunday morning, I returned home. I power-showered, took a quick cat nap, packed up the car and headed north back to Alma.

I knew moving back to campus after 6 months away was going to be an adjustment, but I never knew how hard it really would be. I've been at home cooking, spending time with family and having the freedom to go and do whatever I wanted. Now I am back in a dorm room, not to mention alone for the first time, with suite-mates I don't know and trying to make the best of it. Keeping busy is going to be key for me. I have made a promise to find some time, every single day, to do some sort of workout whether it be a run, a walk, some time on the weights.. anything. Just something to keep me up and moving.

I will begin "work" (one of many) tomorrow and will be working about 6-8 hours a week in the lab. Friday I will begin giving tours again, which I am really looking forward to as I really enjoy the interaction with potential students and their families. 

Friday evening I am actually heading home for the weekend. This was not planned, but came up as I was spending time with some of my sorority sisters and realized that one of them is actually heading home my way on Friday, which has really helped me pull through this week.

After I return from the weekend at home there will be only 18 days left until I can return home for summer and not have to be back here until Mid-August. I am definitely looking forward to having Ashley & Jes as suite-mates in the fall, because I know that will change the whole environment of my living situation. 

Until then, I'll just keep pushing through. Just keep swimming... just keep swimming.

Cailee

xoxo

Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.

Its that time of year again. A time where I spend lots of time, working with an amazing group of people to find a cure. A cure to what you ask.... cancer.

This will be my fifth year participating in Relay for Life of Dearborn.

What is Relay for Life??
In the simplest of terms it is a walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society, but in reality it is so much more than that.  The event itself is a 24-hour function where the community comes together to walk, purchase, educate, and celebrate people who have been touched by this awful disease. There is a time for celebrate, where survivors are recognized and walk the opening lap as a crowd gathers to cheer them on. There is a time to remember those who have lost their battle, for families to share stories, and for everyone to shed a tear.  Through out the whole event, everyone is fighting back. Groups will offer products for purchase, or food, or sweet treats. Want a ride on a magic carpet? You can probably get that too. It is a day of emotions and a night full of bonfires, karaoke and hopefully not rain like the last few years. It is a day I look forward to every year. But Relay for Life is so much more than that. It is weeks and months of preparation to make sure that one day turns out perfect. It is hours of fundraising and brainstorming and doing anything possible to make a few dollars to help not only find a cure, but also assist cancer patients with therapies and counseling and also rides to appointments. American Cancer Society does it all, and for them I relay.

Every year I pick someone that I say I am relaying for it. In years past it has been friends, friends of friends, acquaintances... I've always been that person saying I am very fortunate to not know anyone close to me with cancer. This year it is a different story.

The good news is, the person I relay for this year is a survivor. Her fight began after last year's relay and she has already come out on the other side. She went through chemotherapy and radiation.. the works. She may of lost her hair, but she never lost her smile.

This amazing women is Sharon McIntosh, my boyfriend Nick's mother. Most of you would agree that when you are dating the same person for multiple years, you pretty much gain two sets of parents. That being said she is more than just "my boyfriend Nick's mom," but she is another mother figure to me and she is who I relay for this year.

After seeing the way she fought her breast cancer and seeing the positive attitude she had throughout, I know that there is hope - for everyone. I know that anyone and everyone has a chance at overcoming cancer, as long as it is caught early enough and you never lose hope. Hope is the light at the end of the tunnel.

So like I say every year... I am relaying because I don't want my family and friends to have to go through what many have gone through. I don't want to see families torn apart by the awful disease, anymore. I want a cure and I won't stop fighting until a cure is found. Let's finish this fight.

I am Cailee Drzinski and I am a relayer.

To visit my RFL page please visit ... My Personal Page (Click here!)

Consider leaving a dollar or two.. and you too can be part of finding a cure.

Thank you.