Certificate of participation: cancer edition

On Treatment
Written By Liz Salmi

I received an invitation to participate as a "survivor" in the local Relay For Life event.

As a survivor I'm invited to participate in a "special survivor's lap" around a track. I get a T-shirt and a medal. I do not have to pay money or raise funds to participate in this event.

Is it just me, or would you feel weird about this too?

Relay For Life is an American Cancer Society program (and they're both good events/causes), and I know they have my address because I participate in the ACS online message boards and have received great assistance from the ACS.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to knock the Relay or ACS.

I just feel weird about being offered a medal.

This makes me sad because people fighting cancer are awesome and we do deserve a medal. Actually, I think I've referenced the idea of receiving recognition of some type in posts in the past.

But a medal and a survivor lap around a track? It makes me feel like entertainment.

I kinda felt this way at the Bay Area Brain Tumor Walk (which I LOVE and am totally participating in again this year). There is a part before the walk begins when all the people with brain tumors get a group photo taken and the crowd claps for you.

It’s awkward.

Liz Salmi

Liz Salmi is Communications & Patient Initiatives Director for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Over the last 15 years Liz has been: a research subject; an advisor in patient stakeholder groups; a leader in “patient engagement” research initiatives; and an innovator, educator and investigator in national educational and research projects. Today her work focuses on involving patients and care partners in the co-design of research and research dissemination. It is rumored Liz was the drummer in a punk rock band.

https://thelizarmy.com
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