It was an adventure of a lifetime and one of those journeys that will be forever etched in my heart and memories.
We flew into Toronto, Canada and drove to Niagara, New York. On Friday we were greeted on the USA side by Angela Berti, APR Western District Marketing and Public Affairs Coordinator NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Ms. Berti arrived with kidney stones intact. I didn’t think I‘d get to meet her because she was in so much pain, but I was thrilled to see her. “It isn’t often I get to meet someone who makes a request,” Berti said “and we get thousands of request each year.”
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We have several things in common our degrees in Public Relations, our thirst for adventure and our yearning to let people with cancer know they aren’t alone. She was so warm and friendly. We have been internet friends for two years.
Angela gave us a personal of tour of the United States Falls and they are magnificent. "The wristbands for the tour today is purple. I think it is an omen," smiled Angela.
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My heart was pounding, we were so close to the rapids, the kid in me just wanted to jump in and touch the racing waters. I really had to hold myself back and act like an adult. Would I go down the rapids and into the Falls, you betcha I would.
The Cave of the Winds is a must see and do. An elevator takes you down several stories and then you don a yellow poncho. Entering into a zoo of wild sea gulls laying on nest of eggs and chasing babies, you then walk several tiers of steps up to the Hurricane deck and get a real splash of Niagara Falls. You get soak and wet. They do give you sandals and a bag to put your shoes in. Later, I would fly over the Falls in a helicopter with Rainbow Air getting another view from the air. What a thrill!
Sunday night the Falls were purple at 9 am and 10 pm to honor cancer survivors and also Mission Viejo’s 20th Relay For Life. It doesn’t even get dark until about 9:15 or 9:20 pm, so you could see the Falls were purple, but it was so faint. Adding to the purple at 10 pm were fireworks and then some of the buildings were purple. I felt like I was in a movie, Purple.
The thundering roar of the Falls, mixed with the explosions of majestically, vibrant fireworks, the smell of crisp air and relentlessly purple water pounding over the edge of the Falls put me in a state of euphoria, goosebumps and tears.
Literally, strangers were sharing their stories of cancer survival and loss. While others were telling me how much this meant to them that the Falls were purple, someone, somewhere cares. It really means a lot.
One lady told me her male friend was just diagnosed with cancer and she has been trying to encourage him to exercise and fight back.
He was losing hope, but they drove down to see the Falls and they were talking to others who beat it. His attitude seemed to be lifted-- like he wasn’t the only one with cancer and he could beat it.
We really never know when a kind word, a gesture or a hug can make a difference in someone’s struggle a little bit easier.
Mission Viejo may be 2,560 miles from the Niagara Falls, however we are closer than you think in our fight against cancer. Our goals are the same- to cure and get rid of this disease that haunts us.
So don’t be afraid, make your dreams a reality. Get your purple on with us. Relay, have fun and make a difference.
For more information or to register for the event, go to www.mvrelay.org, www.facebook.com/mvrelay or twitter @mv_RelayForLife.
