I attended a Kick Off Rally for Relay for Life in Martinsburg, PA, last evening and it was such a moving event. Here is a copy of the speech my son, 17 year old, Scott Barb, gave (I was so proud of him) I wanted to start this evening by saying, “Thank you.” It’s because of the hardwork and caring of people like you that it’s possible for people like me to be standing here today. In case you’re wondering what I mean, let me tell you a little of my story. My name is Scott Barb and I am 17 years old. Last Feburary my mom took me to a local emergency room thinking I had pulled a muscle in my right leg. You can’t imagine how shocked we were when the doctor came into my room and told my mom and I something was showing up on my x-rays and it could be cancer. One month later, after seeing three more doctors, having numerous scans completed (as well as a needle and a surgical biopsy) we were told I have Ewing’s Sarcoma which is a rare kind of bone cancer. I was pretty scared at first but then I remembered that God promised he doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle with His help, so I called upon my faith and God’s strength and the fear disappeared. I did want to know what my chances of surviving this disease were. My oncologist told me I had a 70% chance of beating Ewings with no reccurence. This is where people like you come in. Had I asked my doctor just 10 or 15 years ago what my chances were of beating Ewing’s Sarcoma were it probably would have been difficult for her to answer, because no doctor wants to tell their patient they have no chance to survive. But thanks to the hard work of people like you in the past raising money so research can continue the odds have improved from virtually zero to 70% survival in just ten short years. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? I also wanted to ask you not to feel sorry for me. Sure, I’m undergoing chemotherapy and it stinks but life isn’t all bad. I have learned very quickly how many people, strangers included who really care what happens to me, and I have gotten to meet some wonderful people that I’d never have met had I not been diagnosed with cancer. I had a limo ride to the Pittsburgh Pirates batting practise where I met Brian Giles, Jason Kendell, Craig and Jack Wilson then Brian paid for my dad, my pastor and myself to have dinner and attend the Pirate’s game that night, and just last admission, you’ll never believe who walked into my hospital room, Mario Lemmieu! He’s a great guy and a great role model being a survivor himself. I’ve also met some really special kids who are also fighting cancer but if they weren’t bald you’d never know it cause they almost always have a smile on their faces. I may not have hair, eyebrows or eyelashes but I still have a sense of humor. I’d like to tell you something that happened when I was first diagnosed that my mom still laughs about 10 months later. I decided that I wanted to attend school for one day because I wanted to be able to tell my teachers and friends what was going on in my life; I hadn’t been to school for a while and I knew people were beginning to wonder why. When I entered one of my classes the teacher began to hand out tests. I told my teacher I couldn’t take the test because I had not studyed for it. My teacher asked, “Scott, what could possibly be more important than studying for your test?” I know what I did next wasn’t nice but the devil in me just reared it’s head and I answered, “I didn’t study because I have cancer.” I wish you could have seen the look on my teachers face. Nothing like opening mouth and inserting foot. Her jaw dropped pratically to the ground and she told me not only did I not have to take that test but as far as she was concerned I never had to take a test in her class again. What makes the story even funnier is that a few of my friends came to my house that evening and when I told them what happened, one of them said, “Man Scott, you are so lucky.” Before I could say anything, my dad’s voice came from the next room, “Sorta makes you wish you had cancer, doesn’t it?” The room got deathly quiet, at least till I started to laugh then so did all my friends.” I’d like to end my speech this evening by telling you the ten things I hate most about having cancer When people tell me they are sorry when they find out I have cancer. Why are you sorry ? You didn’t give me cancer. When people see my bald head and then look at me with pity in their eyes. How many of you are lucky enough to say you haven’t had to wash your hair in ten months? When someone kisses my bald head. Knock it off, Mom When someone tells me I am an inspiration to them because I am handling this so well. The credit goes to God, not me, because He gives us the strength to fight cancer. When someone rubs my bald head. If you feel like you need to polish something, my grandma has tons of silverware. When someone says, “I bet you can’t wait to get that brace off your leg.” Why? How many of you have someone at your beck and call 24/7 - all I have to say is please get me or I need and someone comes running. Chemotherapy, nausea and vomitting - enough said Admissions to the hospital - although there are some pretty cute nurses at Children’s in Pittsburgh When someone asks me why I’m not mad I have cancer cause I’m such a good kid? What? You know someone who deserves to have cancer? I sure don’t I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. In all seriousness, the thing I hate most about having cancer is when someone says, “I understand how you feel” Please, unless you are a cancer survivor or battling cancer now, never say that to someone who does have cancer because ou can’t possibly know how we feel. At least in my case, I’d much rather hear you say, “You’re in my prayers.” That’s what’s really important. Besides thanking you for all the hard work you are going to do this year to make this Relay a great success, I just wanted to let you know that although having cancer stinks, life isn’t all bad. And thanks to God’s awesome grace, hundreds of thousands of prayers and the hard work of people just like you, I’m in remission and so are many others. Thanks for caring, keep up the good work, and together, with God’s help we can BEAT CANCER! Scott Barb From Scott's proud mom, Shari: Hi. My name is Shari Drexler and I was asked to speak to you tonight to tell you a little about what Relay for Life is all about. Since I’ve always believed a picture is worth a 1000 words, I decided to show you instead. (Hold up pictures of Scott and Ballee<-I'm workin' on it) This is what Relay for Life is all about. The young man in this picture is Scott Barb, my 17 year old son who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma (a rare type of bone cancer) in Feb. of this year. The little girl is Ballee Wahl, a 7 year old from Somerset who was also diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in Feb. Both Ballee and Scott are doing well. Ballee just finished with last chemotherapy treatment and is considered cancer free, her chances of living cancer free for the rest of her life are 85%. Scott has four chemotherapy treatments left to go and is considered cancer free, his chances of living cancer free for the rest of his life are 70%. These kids and other kids and adults like them are what Relay for Life is all about. Had either Scott or Ballee been diagnosed with Ewing’s just ten short years ago, both would have died. The chances of surviving Ewings then were slim to none. But today, because of people in the past who worked so hard to make Relay for Life a sucess and raise money for cancer research these kids and other like them can live to tell their grandchildren about their experiences with cancer. Relay for Life is made up of teams consisting of caring individuals who have come together to raise money to fight cancer. Teams can be family members, people you work with or a group of friends. Funds can be raised in various ways such as raffles, chicken barbeques, bakes sales, yards sales, etc. If you can imagine it, you can do it. These teams work hard all year long to raise funds and all teams come together once a year at a beautiful ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments and honor cancer survivors and those still battling cancer. If you have never attended a Relay for Life ceremony you are missing something that will touch your heart forever. You may not know someone who has cancer now, but chances are you will sometime in your lifetime. The efforts you put forth now could play a large part in saving that person’s life later. As a mother of a child with cancer, I can tell you cancer can be beat and I ask you from the bottom of my heart to make Bellwood’s First Relay for Life a huge success. Thank You.