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Continuing the fight
relay for life pic
A happy Rebecca and Carly pose for a picture before a family wedding in 2000. Rebecca lost her battle with breast cancer at age 36. - photo by Photo Contributed

Every year on this day I do a lot of self-reflecting. Why you may ask? Because 14 years ago on Aug. 1 I lost my mother to breast cancer, and not a day goes by without the hope that I have turned out to be someone she would be proud of.

I frequently have people ask me how I have the energy to commit to so many jobs, volunteer positions, and hobbies while still maintaining a social life. The answer is simple. I watched my mother have this vile disease eat away at her body, but I never saw it eat away at her spirit. Chemo may have taken away her hair, but she wore the new look like it would never go out of style. Cancer may have taken her from me, but she found a way to join the people together in our community to not only fight it, but to provide support, educate, and FIND A CURE. She brought the Relay for Life to Turlock.

So when people ask me how I do so much, my answer is that if my mother could do all that she did while fighting this horrid disease, nothing will stop me from trying to be the best person that I am capable of being. She started it, and that is why I will FINISH THE FIGHT!

The Turlock Relay for Life committee will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the El Rosal off of Monte Vista Avenue. If you or a loved one is interested in joining the committee, we will be introducing the new committee structure and available positions at that time. If you are unable to attend, but are interested please feel free to email me at carly.m.beard@gmail.com.

— Carly Beard, event chair
Turlock Relay For Life