For many of us, a single event can affect our lives in a way that changes our point of view forever.

For me, that event came last October when I attended the annual Relay for Life walk. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the event is designed to bring hope to those touched by cancer and to help fund research to find a cure.

I went to Oxnard High School’s track expecting to walk for a couple of hours. To my surprise hundreds of people were walking. I met many people who have been affected by cancer; some old and some very young.

The event opened with a lap for all the people who had lost someone to cancer, those who were battling cancer, and those who had survived cancer.

As I watched all these people around the track, I remembered some of my friends who lost loved ones to this disease. I began to tear up. I decided that this was bigger than I anticipated. I would walk for anybody I knew who was affected by cancer.

I started my walk at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday October 2, 2004 and finished at 10:30 a.m. the next day, with a four-hour break in between. That night, the Luminaria Ceremony began. Everyone who was affected by cancer was asked to come to the track and say the name of the person who they lost or knew who was still fighting the battle. Again I cried. Hundreds of white bags filled with candles were placed on the bleachers, one for each member of the family that someone lost or knew. The bags were aligned to spell out the word, “HOPE.” It was something I will never forget.

As I walked off the track and headed home, two of the event leaders thanked me for everything I had done. I told them I was just walking to help bring hope. They were pleased at what I had accomplished, so they rewarded me with a special gift. It was a necklace full of beads and at the bottom it was the logo for the American Cancer Society. They told me that it was only given to the people that had been involved with cancer in someway.

I looked at the both of them and said, “I can’t wait till next year, because I won’t fail and I will walk for 24 hours straight. That’s a promise.”

Now, as this year’s Oct. 8 Relay for Life date approaches, I’m preparing myself for the long walk. Ventura College will participate this year through ASB and through AGS. This year I will walk not only for the people who I knew had survived cancer, but for anybody who has hope of beating this disease.

I encourage anyone and everyone to give it a try. Anyone who would like to sign up should go to the American Cancer Society website, http://www.cancer.org/docroot/GI/gi_1.asp or to call 805-983-8864. It will not only make you feel good but it may bring hope to the many men and women involved with cancer.