However, while I'm still conscious, I'll make a little report on last night and this mornings Relay for Life. Not the fundraising, but the event itself.
I knew it would have emotional times, I knew considering who was on our team, there would be plenty of laughs too. I was right on both counts but underestimated both as well. Arriving just after 5pm, I helped with some of the set up, mostly blowing up balloons and hanging chains. By 6:30, when it was time for the opening ceremony, Team Pleasant Grove UMC was in full effect. We had a huge turnout of folks to walk and to visit with. At 6:30 they called for everyone to stop what they were doing and come to the infield stage for the opening ceremony. Brief introductions, a couple of short speeches and then our Emcee, Kelcey Carlson opened the Relay. All was good until she saw me in the crowd and that was when the first tears flowed. I guess my height and standing dead center of the crowd made me an easy target to see and just as she mentioned losing Joe this year, she saw me. Start the waterworks!
The first lap was for cancer survivors and Paxton was front and center leading the charge. The second lap was for survivors and caregivers which meant it was my turn. Start the waterworks. After that everyone began walking and talking and the Relay was in full force. I don't know how many laps I did to start off but eventually, I came back to our tents and sat and visited for awhile. Then after a short rest I went to walking again but this time looking at the names on the luminaria which would be lit later in the evening. It was only a few steps from our tent that I encountered the first one with my Joe's name on it. Another 30 feet or so and there was another, and then another, and yet another. I counted five. Also as I made that slow lap, I saw a number of ones with Paxton Phelps name and Joel Winters name. All told there must have been 15 or so in honor of or in memory of people from Team PGUMC. As 10:00 neared, Jay and I walked over to where one of the ones with Joe's name was on it. Start the waterworks. Just after snapping a couple of photos, they turned all the lights out for the luminaria ceremony. Jay and I made our way to the crowd in front of the stage where after a short speech, they had a slide show with the names of everyone for whom there was a luminaria. The list was in alphabetical order by first name. The first set of names were for those in memory of. So I knew when Joe's name was coming up. When it did, with Joel's name right next to it, cue the waterworks. After that part of the slide show was the "in honor of" portion, and there was Paxton's name...cue more waterworks. Once the slide show was over, everyone joined in a silent walk around the track with only the luminaria to light the way. I was doing good until I got to the gold one with Joe's name on it. I had to stop and have a little meltdown at that point. Within moments a complete stranger was there with her arm around me. Such is Relay for Life. After gathering a little composure, I slowly made my way around the rest of the track.
Once the lights were back on, we continued to walk and talk and visit with booths throughout the night. A big shout out to our team however: I think we were the only ones that truly kept the relay going. At no time was there not someone from our team on the track walking. Not until 8am this morning did we stop. A special nod to the all-nighters: Danny Sullivan, Challie Sullivan, Drew Sullivan, Caroline Winters, Leslie Schriener, and me. We had many others who stayed late into the night and others who were there very early this morning. A big THANK YOU to each of you.
At 8am was the closing ceremony where the small percentage of persons from last night were in attendance. Most had already closed up and gone home. Our team was a hearty one though and we still had a full contingent. I knew there would be a final lap after the closing speeches but I also knew I was bone tired and so before we were called to the stage, I took my last lap in solitary mode. Start the waterworks. After the speeches were done and those left started their last lap, I found myself standing there with Kaitlan Phelps and in need of a good-bye. As Kaitlan and I hugged, we both gave way to the emotions and held on to each other tightly. She cared very deeply for Joe and knows the pain I am in. She is still in the process of a road that I traveled very recently and have a certain understanding. I gave her the same advice that everyone gave me (but I almost never took...and she probably won't either)...be selfish sometime, take time for yourself, be good to yourself, take care of yourself. I know the words are easy to say, and I know how hard they are to actually do. After our tearful goodbye, I walked back to my car in the parking lot, crying the whole way and upon reaching the car, sat there for a few minutes until my vision was not so blurred. The drive home seemed so long...and that feeling of being alone has overwhelmed me. As I type this I can see Joe's photo over the laptop screen and I still am crying.
I knew the whole event would be emotional, but I underestimated it's impact. I had a wonderful time talking with everyone, laughing many, many times, but when all is said and done, I didn't think I would be sitting at home hours later, still awake and still crying. Perhaps it is time for that pill.
Before I go though, I need to acknowledge the tremendous amount of work and self that Caroline Winters put into our team. I could not have done it. I could not do the meetings, the planning, the business of getting the team together. I applaud her and I thank her. I'm proud to have had her as our Team Captain. Here are just a few photos that I've put together in collage format so as not to take up so much space. You will recognize many people and maybe when I wake up, I can caption the photos. This was an amazing experience. Unfortunately I have now been awake for 29 hours and the rambling is beginning. Thank you to everyone who supported my fundraising efforts and those of all Team PGUMC members and every team at our event. I'll share a funny, yet kind of scary story about being tracked down by the person who going into last night was in 3rd place behind me at another time. I thought I was competitive, but she beats me hands down!
The photos are in no particular order. The four above were this morning at around 7am as we were breaking down the tents. Me, Challie and Caroline all took turns standing next to the balloon tent for photo ops. And yes, in the one with me and Challie, I'm choking her. After spending the entire night with her, I realize one more reason why Joe loved her so much. She and I are soooo much alike!
Now I'm not saying that some people crapped out and slept, however, conspicuously absent from these photos is Drew (inside the sleep tent), and as you can see above, Caroline and Challie are equally as beautimous while sleeping. The lower right hand corner is Paxton leading the charge during the first lap, the Survivors lap.
Not sure if Noel and Kevin Currin are butting heads or feel 2 heads are better than one, but the Sweet South cupcake sale/fundraiser at our tents was a huge success....not to mention delicious! Early evening when everyone was milling around and having a good time, the lovely Sullivan women and Kaitlan during the balloon blowup and stringing as we set up.
The balloon and tent set up was some of the most fun of the evening.
The hourly event competitions throughout the night were some of the most hilarious, but also most annoying. From costumes to hula-hoops to elephant snouts to bouncing balloons in very windy conditions. Team PGUMC participated in them all. But alas, we did not get the extra $500.
The luminaria. Although there were multiples of them for Joe, Paxton and Joel, I snapped a shot of each of the gold star ones and then Jay took a photo of me next to Joe's. I really was trying to smile in the photo, but by that point I had already cried for a couple of hours and it was growing ever more difficult. Those little bags with stars cut out and candles inside represent three different stories and three different types of cancer. Paxton is doing well and we are all pulling for him and I am confident that in a few years, as I've said before, this will all be just a faded distant memory for him and he will go on being a regular, wonderful kid. Having a regular, wonderful life. But in the mean time, Joe Lupton and Joel Winters are there on either side of him, keeping the pressure on the powers that be, urging him on and watching from above.
Now as for the previously mentioned scary story. During the night, maybe 2-3am, Challie and I were walking the track together when all of a sudden this woman comes up beside me and asks me if I am Jeff Holland. I of course said yes. She proceeds to tell me that she is the woman who is in 3rd place in individual fundraising behind me and that she is going to beat me. That in the past she has been the overall winner for fundraising and that she still has plenty of donations to come. I'm not sure if it was a threat or a challenge. However, as competitive as I am, even I don't think I would have gone up to a complete stranger to inform them that I was going to beat them. I'll have to give the woman credit though, she must have one large set of cojones. Not sure that is what the whole event is about. As she left, Challie and I had a bit of a chuckle, kept walking and then of course, had some not so flattering things to say about her. Nothing bad, just 3am, tired of walking, cold, damp, hurting feet type of banter.
As of this morning, I am sorry to report that although Renee (that is her name) has done an outstanding job, her total sits at $4375.00. Mine is at $4375.05. Guess I'm still in 2nd! Can't imagine where that nickle came from????????????
However, the best news is that Team PGUMC finished 3rd in the overall standings. An amazing feat for our team. Never have we done so well. As of this typing we have....drum roll please..................
$8928.46
A hearty round of applause to all our supporters and team members. You are the ones that made this happen! Thank you.
(P.S. Obviously I am awake now. I slept for 7 hours straight without moving. My head is stuffy, I am coughing and blowing my nose constantly. I think that is what a night in extreme damp, humid weather will do to you when you are in a t-shirt and shorts. Time now for my first meal in over 24 hours and then I am heading back upstairs to my bed in hopes that I can make it to church tomorrow.)
Fundraising continues through August 31, 2013
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