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Health & Fitness

Zoe Battles Back!

Zoe's reason to join the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Evanston and how cancer has affected her life at a young age.

Taking a stand and working to bring awareness to a disease or issue is a personal matter for each individual. Some people take action because they have been personally affected while others join the cause just because it is the right thing to do and they see others in pain. Zoe Citterman, Relay For of Evanston volunteer, has joined in the fight against cancer for both reasons.  Zoe explains, “I relay for everyone because everyone has been affected by cancer in one way or another. Mostly though, I relay for my Bubbie, who is a breast cancer survivor of 3 years.”

Zoe who is a junior at Evanston Township High School has already seen first hand how cancer has impacted many members of her family. She tells the story of having to be a caregiver for a loved one during her struggle with cancer, “When she [Buppie] was really struggling [with cancer] my father and I moved in with her to help her through her battle. I'll really never forget that summer.” Cancer’s grasp on her family does not stop there. Zoe’s grandfather is currently battling the disease and she has lost an aunt to the battle. Forever impacted by devastating toll that cancer has taken on her family Zoe has made a commitment to fight back. “It's [cancer] really just a horrible thing. It's time for us to find a cure, and that's why I relay!” 

When describing her favorite memory of Relay, Zoe says, “The luminaria last year was unbelievable. The moment when the lights turned off and we saw the candles all over the place was so magical. Everyone held hands and just cried together.”  The Lumanaria Ceremony which Zoe is referring to is a time when volunteers, care givers and survivors come together and walk in silence as they honor and remember their loved ones.

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A spirit of togetherness encompasses every Relay event as people gather together for a common goal. “Everyone should relay because it's a great opportunity to help others and become a part of an amazing community of people who want to create a better tomorrow,” states Zoe.

You are encouraged to join Zoe and other relay participants this weekend as they celebrate, remember and fight back! Every person reading this post knows someone or will know someone who has been impacted by cancer. Let us join together to raise funds for research and awareness; honor or loved ones; and help support the much needed programs that assist cancer patients and their caregivers.

Find out what's happening in Evanstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Relay For Life of Evanston will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Evanston Township High School fieldhouse. Registration opens at 4:00pm. Please visit

www.RelayForLife.org/EvanstonIL for more details. 

 

Please join us as we battle this devastating disease!

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