My experiences with cancer have not been good.  I lost my mother in 2017 and grandmother in 2005 to this horrible disease.  However, because of my experiences, my interest in helping to find a cure has become very strong.

In 1997 I discovered Relay For Life.  That first year I went mainly out of curiosity to see exactly what Relay was all about.  Needless to say, I enjoyed that evening and have been hooked since then.  Over the next few years, I would attend the day of the event and help wherever I could; not on a team, not registered, I just showed up.   Since that time, I have served on multiple Leadership Teams, the Arizona Area Leadership Team, participated in relays in Montana, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Arizona.

My favorite events within Relay are the Opening Survivor Lap and the Luminaria Ceremony.  The opening lap gives me the HOPE that we will find the CURE.  The Luminaria Ceremony not only allows me to further my healing, but it also gives me the opportunity to support others that have lost loved ones to cancer.

As a caregiver, I have personally used cancer.org to get information to assist me with understanding different cancers.  I have learned about programs that have helped my family members in their journey.  I have used the support of my Relay Family and cancer survivors and their knowledge to help guide me as a caregiver. I have seen how cancer research has helped my family and others.

My name is Jeremiah Gow from Maricopa, Arizona.  “Relay For Life events are not only a way to join my community to fight back against cancer, but it is also a way to inspire HOPE by raising funds and cancer awareness.”