EllingFamily:TogetherWeThrive

For the past two years, my wife and I have participated in Relay for Life ( Franklin County, Iowa). This is a great event that is sponsored by the American Cancer Society in order to raise funds for all their cancer support programs and research. This year was special because I was chosen as an honorary co-chair with two other cancer survivors. I was asked to give a speech on behalf of the survivors and the attached video file is a recording of that speech Below is a transcript of the speech I gave.

When Sharon Sanders asked me if I would like to speak, I began to contemplate what I would like to say if I had the chance to speak on behalf of all those who have gone through cancer treatment. I began by thinking maybe Ill talk about how difficult the treatments are or perhaps testify to the great advances that cancer research has been made due to events like this, or maybe even boast about Lance Armstrong's unprecedented success showing that life does go on past cancer, but ultimately I had only one thing that I really wanted to say, and that was Thank You.

I would like to say thank you to the researchers, doctors, nurses and the other health care professionals that did their best to make sure patients are getting accurate information and being cared for and given the best available diagnosis and treatment options.

And finally I would like to say thank you to all the friends, family, and community members for their support, kindness, compassion, and love. It is through this support that cancer patients are able to dig deep and continue to fight even when fighting is difficult.

Being a big Lance Armstrong fan and supporter of his foundation I would like to end my speech by reading the statement of belief for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, an organization that deals solely with cancer patient issues.

The Manifesto of the Lance Armstrong Foundation

Get help accepting the tears. Acknowledging the rage.
Believe in your right to live without pain.
Believe in information. Not pity.
Believe in straight, open talk about cancer.
With husbands, wives and partners. With kids, friends and neighbors. And the people you live with, work with, cry and laugh with.
This is no time to pull punches.
Youre in the fight of your life.

Be about the hard stuff.
Like finding the nerve to ask for a second opinion.
And a third, or a fourth, if thats what it takes.
Be about getting smart about clinical trials.
And if it comes to it, being in control of how your life ends.
Its your life. You will have it your way.

Be about the practical stuff.
Planning for surviving. Banking your sperm. Preserving your fertility. Organizing your finances. Dealing with hospitals, specialists, insurance companies and employers.
Its knowing your rights.
Its your life.
Take no prisoners.

I hope everyone stays somewhat cool and has enjoyable night tonight being with friends and family. God Bless and as Lance Armstrong would say Livestrong.

Be about the fight.
And know the fight never ends because
Cancer may leave your body, but it never leaves your life.

Live strong.