Kelsey Hannah, Class of 2016
“When I was eight years old my dad was diagnosed with stage three Colorectal cancer. Over the next three years he went through numerous rounds of chemo therapy, radiation and four surgeries. The cancer spread to his liver and other organs and when I was 11 he finally lost his battle.
Because of research and new treatment options that came about during his three year fight I got to have three years with my dad instead of one. I Relay so that more families can have more time together, like mine did.
Five years after my dad died my aunt/godmother had a reoccurrence of melanoma, this time in her groin after being in remission twice for melanoma. She wasn’t as lucky the third time; it ended up spreading to her lymph nodes and into her bones.
She lost her fight to the disease a year after she discovered the reoccurrence. Yet during her fight she took part in a new trial and had the newest treatment options available.
I Relay because I have seen the miracles that Relay for Life provides.”