The attractive woman at the back of the room sat quietly listening to the others speak. When it came her turn, she stood up, looked around the room, took a deep breath, and uttered, “I’m mad!” With that, she pounded her fist on the table, tears welling up in her eyes, and launched a tirade at the misfortune that had been bestowed upon her son. For you see, he had been robbed.

As a senior in high school, the good-looking teenager had the world at his feet. He had been voted Most Handsome by his peers, never lacked for female attention, and he had been the starting pitcher of his school’s baseball team, breaking many previous records and racking up unprecedented interest from college recruits. He was destined to receive a full athletic scholarship to the college of his choice; the hardest decision he had to make was which offer to accept.

The thief struck on a late spring day. When the worst part of the assault was over, the young man awoke missing his right arm. While he prayed that the thief was finished with him, he went through several more assaults before the thief finally gave up and left him alone.

Try as she might, his mother had not been able to force the thief to leave her son. While the teenager battled nightmares for several months, reliving each vicious attack, he could never focus on the face of the thief; but he knew the thief’s name and would repeat it over and over in his sleep.

While the face of the thief remains a void, the name is on the world-wide most wanted list. Many celebrities are known only for their first name. Although not a celebrity, the thief was no exception. His recognizable name puts him in every household. The name? Cancer.

The angry mother had been speaking to a group of American Cancer Society volunteers, answering the question of why she volunteered with Relay for Life. She was mad; mad at the thief who stole her son’s life, not literally thank goodness, but the dreams that her son had longed for his whole young life. She would have gladly given her right arm to save the pitching arm of her son.

Hundreds of people just like the young mother will be battling their own thieves Friday night when the Miss-Lou Relay for Life comes to town. Survivors of all ages, race, gender, and social status will proudly lead the way to help banish the thief from the world. They need your help to succeed.

The Miss-Lou Relay for Life starts at 5:15 p.m. on the Vidalia Riverfront with a survivor reception, followed by the opening ceremonies and survivor walk at 6:30.

Dr. Stephen Stray, cancer research activist, will be among the cheerleaders on the sideline. Never have you experienced such an adrenaline rush as when you stand and applaud the cancer survivors as they make their way around the track, some in wheelchairs, some with walkers, some bald, some with turbans, but all with fierce determination in their stride. The culmination of their efforts will be the release of the survivor balloons which symbolizes the freedom of being rid of or gaining strength on the thief.

Come join us as we continue to help provide the ability for the Dr. Strays of the world to rid the faceless thief from the most wanted listed.

This is one place where your anger is welcome!

Janis Holder is the 2009 chairman of the Miss-Lou Relay for Life.