Dear Editor,

Relay for Life is part of the American Cancer Society Organization. I think it is amazing Southeastern is getting its students involved in such an important cause. It’s good to see my peers being hands on in the fight to cure cancer. It is important for us to raise money for others because we never know if that could be us one day. We would expect the same support. I think it was a good idea to host the fundraiser at the Southeastern Lions versus Texas State football game. There was thousands of people attending the game, and it was a good chance to socialize with people and get them involved with the fight.

I’m sure most people know someone who has cancer or who is in recovery; I do. My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. It was devastating news to my grandmother as well as our entire family. She went through chemo, lost all of her hair and became extremely weak. It was heart breaking for me to see a woman I loved suffer so badly, but I knew I had to be supportive of her. In the fall of 2008, my grandmother entered remission and began to feel better.

A high school in Slidell, Northshore, hosts Relay for Life every year on their track field. I decided it would be a good idea to get my grandmother out of the house and take her to experience Rely for Life. I wanted to show her that there are other people going through the same struggles that she was and that she did not need to feel alone. We lit a candle together in memory of the loved ones who suffered a terrible fate, but I made sure to let her know she did not have to experience the same outcome. We talked and walked around the track for a few hours before it was time for me to take her home. My grandmother told me she had a wonderful time; I could not be happier.

I fully support the American Cancer Organization, and I support Southeastern wanting to get involved. The fight to cure cancer has to start somewhere. Why not here in Hammond, La.? Thank you so much for taking your time to read my letter. I hope I effectively stated how much I appreciated the school becoming involved.