David's Dragons

Co- captained by Kim Carney and Joey Carney, this is the fourth year that David's Dragons has participated in Campbell Relay. And the word participate does not adequately describe the energy expended by members of this team as three of them are key members of this year's committee (Chair, Entertainment and Logistics). Not to forget that last year they were practically the only members of the committee!

Here are Kim's responses to the series of questions that teams were asked to answer so that we could share their stories:

Why do you or your team relay?

Seven days after my second son, Sammy, was born, my husband David was diagnosed with blood cancer. A month later, we headed up to Stanford to start the bone marrow transplant procedure. We celebrated his 39th birthday in the hospital, and a month later he passed away. As David's caretaker, I could only stand by and watch him fight -- first the cancer and then the cure. There is no test developed that could have let us know that the drugs used to have him accept the new immune system would or would not work. We had to go on faith, it was our best chance so we took it. Unfortunately, it was the cure that killed him.

A few months after David passed away, I was driving with Joey and we passed the Campbell Community Center. Joey looked over and saw the Relay and asked what it was. The light turned red and as we stopped, I looked over and said "Oh, that is the Relay for Life. It's people walking to raise money to fight cancer so no one has to go thru what our family has." The light turned green and we drove on. He was quiet for a couple of blocks and then he said "We should do that, Mama. We should do that." I wasn't ready to face what had happened yet at all, so I pulled the Mommy thing and said "Oh it is too late this year honey, maybe next year." And then, I promptly forgot about it. Joey did not. Six months later Joey came to me and said "Mommy, when are we signing up for the race?" I looked at him "Race? What Race." He looked at me like I was an idiot. "you know...the RELAY Race against Cancer." I was flabbergasted. Here was this 7 year old kid and he had kept that relay in the back of his mind all this time.

How could I NOT do it. So our team was born.

Three months after our first Relay, 18 months after my husband had passed away, I realized my own worst fears when I had to face cancer myself. When the doctor called and said "you have cancer" I couldn't speak. It was like lightning striking our family twice! So I started the surgeries and the treatments. Luckily in my case, it was the treatment and a new drug that gives us hope that this is a battle I won't have to fight again.

So why do we relay? How can we not.

Tell us about your fund raising activities – what do you and/or your team do?

What does our team do? Well for the past couple of years, the team fund raising really has taken a back seat as three of our most active members have taken roles on the Committee (Chair, Entertainment and Logistics). Most of our efforts are spent organizing and helping everyone make this event great. We do have the support and the care from David's work Structural Integrity. They sponsor our team each year and are a great help.

If you had one tip to offer a new (incoming) team, what would you share?

If I had one tip or advice to share with an incoming team, I would say to try and get over the fear of asking people to help. To help with a donation, to help with a project. When asked why they hadn't donated, most people responded that they had never been asked. Oh, and also to see whatever amount your team raises as a team win. Every dollar could be the one that helps find the cure!

Note from the blog creator: if you wish to support this team by donating you can do so on Joey and Sam Carney's page.