I have always donated to Relay for Life, but I never imagined that one day I would have my own team and be asking people to help support me and the American Cancer Society.

Now I am! For those of you who do not know me or know my story, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2011.

I elected to have a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.

Many people have asked, “Does cancer run in your family?” or “Did you feel a knot?”

The answer to both of those questions is, “No.”

At the age of 44, I had my first mammogram that sent me on this journey. I was very lucky that the cancer was at stage 1, and it had not spread to my lymph nodes or other parts of my body. The American Cancer Society recommends that women start getting mammograms once a year beginning at age 40.

As I was recovering at home in January, I wondered how I could help stress the importance of mammograms to other women.

I decided to start a Relay for Life team, and that is how Team Tatas began.

From January to May with the incredible support of friends and strangers, I was able to organize a team, design and sell T-shirts and bracelets, and raise more than $3,000 for Relay for Life!

My team’s success was truly an inspiring and humbling experience. Now that the 2012 Relay for Life is over, it is time to start making the 2013 Relay for Live even bigger and better.

Please come out and be a part of Team Tatas Summer Rally Thursday at Doc Bigloves in Natchez.

Doors will open at 5 p.m.  There will be a $5 cover charge, and games start at 6 p.m.

Make sure you bring a partner to enter the Party Pong contest! There will be a $10 team entry fee for this contest.

The winning team will be announced at 8:30 p.m. and will receive a great prize.

You will be able to enter the karaoke contest and the wackiest bra contest for a $2 entry fee for each contest. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive prizes.

If you choose not to participate in the game, just come out, enjoy the fun and be a part of Team Tatas Summer Rally!

We will have Team Tatas sunglasses and huggies for sale. Thank you again for all of your support, not only for Team Tatas, but for the American Cancer Society.

 

Meg Freeman is a Natchez resident and cancer survivor.