On Friday, June 20, over 900 names were read in a solemn ceremony held every year at the Missoula Relay for Life event at Missoula County High School Stadium.

The luminaria ceremony is conducted just after sunset to symbolize the impact of receiving a cancer diagnosis. The patient feels completely alone and enveloped by darkness. However, as the small, beautifully decorated bags with candles inside are lit around the running track of the stadium, the overhead lights are turned off and walkers are illuminated by the nearly 1,000 candles.

NBC Montana's Will Wadley and I took turns reading page after page of names. Some were recognizable, others had meaning only to family members and friends, in fact, my own father-in-law, Lloyd Loewen, was one of the names read. Lloyd passed away last summer after losing his battle with cancer.

I encourage everyone reading this story to consider entering a team in the 2015 Relay for Life. Monies raised go to cancer research and to help the families of victims with transportation costs to and from doctor visits.

Thanks to all who put on the event. Perhaps one day we can happily say, there's no Relay for Life this year, because cancer has been cured.

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