Monthly Photo Challenge - Beautiful Ugly

The challenge for this month was to capture the beautiful ugly.  I know there are going to be macros of insects and other ways to take ugly objects and make them beautiful through the photo capture.  For me, my ugly is The Beast - cancer.  It has taken 2 of my immediate family, greatly impacted the health of my mom and is winning the battle with my uncle.  I've also lost 2 of my grandparents, another uncle and have an aunt who is also a survivor.  Yes, it's an ugly beast.

In early May, I saw the beauty behind this beast - several hundred people coming together through a local American Cancer Society Relay for Life.  For those not familiar with Relay for Life, it's held at a track or other venue that's conducive to walking laps.  Team members walk - some teams actually have true relays.  Each team is supposed to have at least one person walking all the time.  It goes from 7 in the evening to 7 the next morning, 12 hours.  And the teams all find unique ways to raise money for the ACS.  My company location had a team and our team sold pulled pork sandwiches and baked goods.

A big part of the Relay for Life fundraising is the purchase for luminaria in honor or memory of loved ones impacted by cancer.

These are just some of my family and friends that have had to fight The Beast.

There is something moving about seeing all the luminaria and hearing the roll calls or the other ways that family and friends that have fought The Beast are honored.  It makes me cry every single time I participate.

For more views on making ugly beautiful, please check Tabitha's post.