My sister Karen's dear friend Amy organized a Relay for Life team in memory of Ann. It was so nice of her to take the reigns on this and a great opportunity for our family to be together for a good cause.
Team Yellow Duck was named such because of the Yellow Duck that Koen's niece gave Ann at the time of her diagnosis. Yellow Duck accompanied Ann to every appointment, was at her bedside at home and at the hospital, even went through radiation with her. Yellow Duck traveled to Iowa for her Iowa funeral and continues to keep vigil in Leuven.
Hannah was so stinkin' excited to have Yellow Ducky on her shirt.
In the time that has passed since the event, the kids love wearing their yellow duck shirts.
Even baby gets one :)
Lucas made a luminary for all of the cousins.
The nieces and nephews.
Our family team. We were only missing two - Brent due to customers finally planting and Koen because he lives an ocean away!
It was very nice to participate in Relay for Life. These kinds of events take on different meaning when you have a life changing experience, unfortunately. The most moving part of the event was at dusk when volunteers lit the luminaries that lined the track. They turned off the track lights and we were surrounded by the glow of the white bags flickering in honor of, in tribute of and in memory of so many loved ones. The word emotional doesn't even touch it. We walked the track in silence, only accompanied by the luminary glow. It makes me wonder how this nasty cancer disease can just keep going and affect so many lives. Hopefully, events like this can help make a difference in research and prevention.
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