Relay Rainbow and me.
Me and my beautiful boy!
One of the things I am most proud of today is the work I do with Relay For Life of Second Life in support of the American Cancer Society. My journey with Relay began almost as soon as I started in Second Life, when my first charity event as a creator was the Second Life Christmas Expo in 2015. Since then, I have continued to find ways to contribute, whether as a participant, volunteer, team captain, or advocate. Over the past few years, my involvement has grown significantly. I created my own Relay team, and this year I had the privilege of serving in a leadership role within the Relay For Life of Second Life community.
This post is not about titles or positions. It is about the journey I experienced this year—the challenges of stepping into a new role, the lessons I learned about leadership, and the personal growth that came from navigating new responsibilities. It has been, as many of us have said, a difficult year. Yet I believe it was also an important one. Difficult seasons have a way of teaching us who we are, what we value, and how we choose to show up for others. Along the way, I witnessed both the challenges and the strengths of our community. I formed new friendships, strengthened existing relationships, and gained a deeper appreciation for the power of compassion, understanding, and perseverance.
To understand why this year's project meant so much to me, it helps to know a little about who I am.
I am a mother of two incredible children. My oldest son is gay and has been in a loving, committed relationship for several years. My younger son is a transgender man who came out to me when he was twelve years old. Being a mother is one of the most important parts of my identity. Like many parents, I have spent years learning, listening, and growing alongside my children. They have taught me as much as I have ever taught them. While the journey has not always been easy, one thing has never been in question: my love and support for them.
At the beginning of this Relay season, I began thinking about ways to combine my passion for Relay For Life with raising awareness about health disparities affecting the LGBTQ+ community. As I researched, I learned more about the challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face in accessing equitable healthcare and cancer prevention resources. The more I learned, the more I felt compelled to help shine a light on these issues.
My goal was simple. I wanted to create something that would educate, inspire, and encourage conversation while remaining true to the mission of Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society. I knew the topic was important, and I also understood the need to approach it thoughtfully and respectfully. I reached out to the community for feedback and support, shared my vision, and hoped others would see value in it.
The response was overwhelmingly encouraging. People from across the community stepped forward with enthusiasm, ideas, and offers to help. Their support gave me confidence and helped build the foundation for what would eventually become Relay Rainbow. At the same time, I was reminded that meaningful conversations often bring different perspectives. Those moments challenged me to listen carefully, reflect on my intentions, and ensure that the event remained focused on inclusivity, education, and community.
During that period, I had several conversations that stayed with me. One supporter shared how meaningful it was to see someone actively choosing to stand alongside the LGBTQ+ community as an ally. My younger son offered his own perspective, reminding me how important allies are and encouraging me to continue moving forward. Their words reinforced what I had hoped from the beginning: that support, understanding, and visibility matter.
As planning continued, I realized that the heart of the event was not simply about awareness or education. It was about creating a space where people felt welcome, valued, and safe to be themselves. It was about recognizing that cancer affects people from every background and that our strength comes from standing together in the fight against it.
The reality has exceeded anything I imagined. The support, kindness, and sense of community that emerged through Relay Rainbow have been inspiring. People have shared stories, experiences, and parts of themselves that they had never shared before. New connections were formed. Conversations happened that might not have happened otherwise. Together, we created something that felt welcoming, supportive, and hopeful.
As I write this, I am tired but incredibly grateful. I am proud of what our community built together. More importantly, I am proud of the reminder that kindness, empathy, and understanding still have the power to bring people together. I want to also take the time to thank three amazing Relay teams that helped execute this event and make it the success it was. Thank you to Team Purple Tears, Shields of Serenity, and Mordhaus. Without you all, this event wouldn’t have happened. You all showed me the power of community, love, and inclusion. And a special thanks to Kisic Catori, owner of Catori. You were the biggest cheerleader of this event from day one, thank you. I would also like to thank all the vendors, sponsors, and entertainers that volunteered their time and talent. Every contribution was deeply appreciated.
For me, Relay Rainbow became about more than raising awareness of cancer disparities or celebrating Pride. It became a reminder of what community can be when people choose compassion over division and understanding over assumptions. Cancer does not discriminate. The fight against cancer belongs to all of us, and so does the responsibility to support one another.
That is the lesson I will carry forward from this year.
