Like many of us, Carolyn Melton has been personally affected by cancer. Carolyn lost her father, Alfred Lane, to Leukemia in 2004 within six months of receiving diagnosis. Alfred was 67 years old when he died, and had no prior history of cancer in his family. It was the memory of her father that led Carolyn to become involved in Relay For Life, an overnight walking event to benefit the American Cancer Society.

This year, Carolyn participated in Relay for a second time as a member of Piper Aircraft's walking team, Team Piper. Carolyn and 42 other coworkers and friends comprised the team, which collectively raised $13,811 for the Indian River County Relay For Life, and was named the event's top corporate fundraiser. Carolyn personally raised $1,769, earning her the prestigious title of "Star Supporter."

To be a Star Supporter, one must fundraise a minimum of $1,500 for Relay. Kris Altman, community representative for the American Cancer Society of Indian River County and Nancy Madsen, area executive director for the American Cancer Society of Indian River County, were among those in attendance at a Piper team wrap-up luncheon on June 20. There, they awarded Carolyn with a special t-shirt commemorating her achievement.

At the luncheon, Altman explained that $1,500 was enough to cover the cost for one child with cancer and his family to attend R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Cancer Kids) camp

for one week. R.O.C.K. camp offers these children and their siblings an opportunity to experience the fun and adventure of summer camp without having to feel "different" from other kids. Additionally, parents can consult with medical professionals in a casual setting and meet other families in similar situations as their own.

Receiving the news that her donations would make it possible for a family to attend the camp was especially rewarding to Carolyn, who remembered how the children at Shands hospital in Gainesville tugged at her heart when her father was there for treatment. "Those kids would play and laugh as if they weren't sick at all. To them, life was so simple. They really helped take away some of the stress and sadness for me at that time," she said.

Carolyn went on to say, "It's a good thing to be able to help and to give to someone else. Nothing could be done to save my father, but hopefully I can help save someone else's life. "

Although she has supported various causes for many years, fundraising for Relay has provided Carolyn with a sense of healing. She has found that people are generally eager to support the cause, and raised funds by selling tickets to a company-sponsored raffle open only to Piper employees as well as candy bars and home-baked items. Carolyn is already receiving requests from coworkers to begin baking brownies again even though the next Relay isn't until April 2009!

Losing her father taught Carolyn that life should never be taken for granted. She still misses him deeply and thinks of him often, remembering what a big heart he had and what a hard worker he was--traits that have clearly been passed down from father to daughter.