These days it seems everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer’s ugly hand. It strikes family members, our neighbors, friends and even ourselves.

Cancer doesn’t discriminate but wields its wrath upon all with no regard or bias for age, race, religion, wealth or lack thereof.

I don’t hate many things but cancer is an exception.

On the flip side, it’s also remarkable and so good to see how something so ugly and devastating as cancer doesn’t stop there and defeat us.

That by the act of coming together, we make something beautiful out of a devastating situation and something more powerful than the ugliness of cancer.   

For instance, this past month, students at Longwood University hosted their annual Relay for Life event. With 58 teams comprised of more than 900 people all coming together for a common cause, these good folks raised more than $66,000 for the American Cancer Society.

They also distributed information about cancer prevention and women donated their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to help others who have lost their hair from chemotherapy and other forms of cancer treatment.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution to support the fight against cancer, there is still time. Relay for Life at Longwood Committee Vice Chair Meghan West says you can make a donation online at relayforlife.org/Longwood.

The committee plans to wind up this year’s efforts in August.

These acts of kindness are the good side of an awful situation. A big shout out to the students and advisers at Longwood who organized the event and to all who participated and donated.

Keep up the good fight!