Relay for Life is one of The American Cancer Society's biggest fundraisers.

The greater Augusta area has held relays each June since 2001. Typically, it is a 16-hour outdoor event where teams camp out and take turns walking the track.

The first lap is traditionally led by our heroes -- cancer survivors and their caregivers. This year, however, we had more heroes present than just the ones wearing purple T-shirts and medals.

Mother Nature apparently didn't hear our requests for sunshine and warm weather, and instead, she pounded us with more rain than we could deal with.

Thanks to Hall-Dale High School, we were able to move everything inside. Instead of walking a track, we walked laps in the gym. Glow sticks lit the luminary bags instead of candles and people camped out in the halls instead of in their tents.

It wasn't quite the same; we were a bit crowded, but we were warm, dry and filled with the relay spirit.

Thank you to Hall-Dale High School and to all the people who stepped up and pitched in to make the 2009 Greater Augusta Relay for Life such a huge success.

Sue Hanna

Chairperson

Greater Augusta Relay for Life