I Heart Faces: Photojournalism // UTC East Hartford Relay For Life

Posting my favorite photo from the UTC East Hartford Relay For Life.  You can read my full story and details on the event on my other "Journey Blog" --- it was an amazing event for me for SO many reasons.  I love event photography, and especially Relay For Life.  The happy faces, the emotional faces, the families, the co-workers, the community all in one place fighting cancer.  celebrating life and remembering those we have lost to cancer.  It doesn't get any better than this.

What is Relay? 
Relay is Celebrating Life - your life and the lives of all the people you love, and sharing that feeling of celebration with your community.
Relay is Remembering- those you may have lost to this terrible disease.  Having the fortitude to get on the track and make a difference.
Relay is Fighting Back - however you know how.  Get healthy, get in shape, share the education of early detection and prevention, quitting smoking and getting together with your community at Relay and making a pledge to FIGHT BACK!

Hope you like my photo  --- and seriously you need to read the full story ----> HERE

Cool sidebar:  This guy was so cool -- he is the one that took the great photo of Steve and I with our sashes on walking the survivor lap.  Amazing people where ever you go --- that is the best thing about photo journalism, you have a reason to meet and talk to everyone!  :)

Relay For Life: I Heart Faces

Relay For Life of Quabog Valley 

Cancer Survivors wear purple shirts with sashes, carry flowers, and are our Heros 

Purple shirts, with empowering statements on the back. 

The back of this shirt says "I Want to Celebrate More BIrthdays"

By participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life we are making a differnce

This is a photo of the honorary chair - a local media spokesperson who is a cancer survivor

I love this photo of her as she gets ready to tell her story of strength and HOPE to the crowd. 

Her smile looking up and out to the crowd just eludes strength 

It is leaders, survivors like her that raise HOPE to so many and leadership that helps to find a cure for cancer and help more people celebrate MORE BIRTHDAYS! 

 The Birthday campaign this year was so much fun for photos -

 I really wish I got out more and got more photos, but it was so rewarding to be a part of our local Relay with the Cub Scout Team.  "Pack 57 ROCKS! Against Cancer!  

Link on the photo to more of my Relay For Life photos from Belchertown.  

It was such a great time and our team can't wait to go back again next year!

Next year this will be me wearing purple.

Yes - I am currently going through my own journey chronicled here.

It is a different place for me to be - a cancer survivor, newly diagnosed, fighting my own battle. 

Join the fight - find a Relay near you.

Get involved in your local Relay today!  

NCTP Corporate Video is now on www.RelayForLife.org

The FIght Back Express!

Had to post my favorite photo of the FB express trip to Atlanta. I met up with my Relay BU friends at NHO and as I was gravitating with my camera to the front of the crowd (trying to look like the official photographer), but just really trying to get some good ones. I know that Bobbie loves my photos! So here I am with Liz, Linda, Sarah & Toni (top row), me & my "soul sister" Michelle (we were born 6 days apart and love to celebrate our birthdays together!).

Here is a link to Nancy E Photography to see the rest of the album - what a beautiful day it was and it was really good to meet up with old and new friends at NHO!

Relay Countdown: Shelley

The famous sequence (from my kodak gallery of Mark Luftkin photos labeled "NOTHING SEEMS TO WAKE HER")...My West Coast buddy Shelley reappears on MY blog today. I love her blog, she was the one that got me into this crazy obsession with online journaling and here's a shout out to her - thanks for all you do for ACS - but more than that thanks for your smiles, your hugs - - for all your friends, for your great self portraits and can't wait to see you.

Good luck with your Relay! Go Merrill Lynch! Everyone must visit her blog for some great Relay photos, stories and more!!

Gardner Logistics Tshirt - Celebrating 15 years of a top notch Relay

This Relay has been a top Relay in the US for so many years.... at least 10! I have to look back in the historical files for sure... but Fran and this wonderful woman with him have been the fuel behind the logistics of this event that has been more than 500K in fundraising and close to 1 million for the past few years! Great volunteers and a solid staff partnership -- really setting the pace for New England!

Pic #1 - the Tshirt (how cool is that?!)
Pic #2 - After the cutting of the ribbon

Relay Tour with Judy, Sue Ann & Schuyler

Relay Season is here in New England with BLUE skies!

It's a Friday night in April and it has begun... Relay season is here! Schuyler, Steve and I stopped by the local 5 College Relay - including participants from UMASS Amherst, Amherst College, Smith College, Hampshire College & Mount Holyoke. What great weather, blue sky, lots of sunshine and the weather in the 70's. Perfect weather for a Relay and amazing for New England this time of year. Lot's of smiles, lot's of college students and supporters round the track with their fraternity and sorority t-shirts and the Relay tshirt of the event. I love to go and say hi to the staff people that work with these great volunteers to make it all happen in the communities, and it was fun to start the season off in my new community to visit this event.... say hi to Diane, Tracy & Kelly and take photos.

Below are some of my favorites - and here is a link to a larger collection on Kodak for your viewing pleasure. I think we need a contest for photos amongst my favorite bloggers.... My buddy Shelly has some amazing pics from the west coast.... this could be a great season to get some award winners!

T-shirt statements

Relay - looking back - Rohert Park, CA

Nancy E Photography travels to Rohnert Park Relay For Life - home of my friend Becky Lunders and family! This was a fun trip! Great people, great weather, great spirit!

Relay Summit in Dallas

My favorite photos of the week - I was in Dallas with the NCTP volunteers and staff relationship managers and just had a good time with them and all the volunteers and staff I know and love. It was like going back to summer camp (just with a lot more stress!)

from top to bottom:
1. Bob MacKay & I testing out the award photo area on Thursday night
2. My buddies / collegues / best friends -Shawn Coltharp (Paduka, KY)and Kathi Matthews (Seattle)
3. The Austrailians with Becky, Iris and Darnelle
4. Donna from dressbarn with me as she was on her way to catch her flight home
5. Charlie & Sue Ann in the crowd at the closing ceremony

Stowe Relay For Life

My trip this weekend to the only nordic Relay this weekend in Stowe after Schuyler's Mighty Might Challenge. It was a busy day, skiing all day, driving to the event - - taking photos in the rain -- the rain stopped - - I skied about 10 laps around the course and the tents in the snow - - alongside the skate sleds, the xtry skiers, classic and skate, the snow shoeing people... I did make it in time for the opening ceremony where the President of Johnson State College gave the opening remarks, how all our lives are touched by cancer as she named off the immediate circle of recent and past diagnosis she personally experiences...

I pause to think of my friend fighting, those surviving,(Susan and Keith - the strongest woman and man I know that fight daily... ), those still fighting (Naomi's dad), those lost (Chester my beloved dog, Kim the incredible volunteer from Boulder, Diana Love the number one volunteer in Western NH for so many years). Strong lives lost and strong ones continuing to live with this disease - - including those I meet at each of these events that touch my heart and my soul and keep me working for the cure - - I know so many incredible people from my travels around the country, survivors of all kinds - - fueling the fight in so many. 4700 events this year nationwide - it is mind blowing if you think about it, how communities across the country put these overnight events together and celebrate survivorship with those they know and honor those they have lost and spend time talking, supporting, having fun and celebrating life - yes this is a celebration.

The tent was warm, the outside snow was wet and a bit slick, the teams were so spirited. I took many pictures, but lost them on my hard drive, I was so sad, and still am, after my friend and I search and tried to recover them.... But the spirit and the pictures are still in my head. The season is just beginning, the passion for the fight - - stay tuned..... here we go!