By Jody Russell

Sitting at my computer working on graphics, I’ve learned a lot of handy skills.

I can use Photoshop to remove the wrinkles from a friend’s neck and a pimple from a kid’s face. I can turn that horrid pink shirt to a more dramatic orange shirt and remove wayward wiry gray hairs that go straight in the air. I can even add someone into the photo who wasn’t even there. Easy stuff. But when my dad got bile duct cancer, I couldn’t take the magic wand tool and fix him. It was a hard year and those handy skills weren’t good for much. The real useful skill I learned that year was to listen.

This year, I volunteered for a national study researching the prediction of colon cancer and got a free colonoscopy out of it. I was due for one anyway, but I have to say, this is quite the test to volunteer for. It went well and I’m healthy. But did it make a difference? Will it make a difference?

A friend of mine recovering from breast cancer invited me to join her for the Mother’s Day Race for the Cure. I paid my fee, got my T-shirt and carpooled over to the Mall of America and walked in a huge slow-moving group of people. I felt lucky to have my friend and we talked about the world as we walked, raising money to fight cancer. It was overwhelming that so many people were there because someone they loved had breast cancer.

But am I doing enough?

Many friends, colleagues and community members filled Immanuel Lutheran Church last week to say goodbye to Judy Schell, who passed away after 21 months of cancer. It seemed that nearly the whole Eden Prairie community was there and it was moving, beautiful and even joyous. During Judy’s illness, I learned to keep going, and talk about books and words and ideas with her, like we always did. Keep on, just keep on. And we did until the end.

But I am angry. I am really, really angry at cancer. Angry-to-tears kind of angry. Cancer sounds like one thing, one disease, but it goes after the body in a multitude of terrible ways like a blind evil -- attacking, destroying and ravaging people and their lives without mercy. As long as my loved ones are fighting their tough battles, I need to fight too. I’m channeling my angry tears into action.

I have found another way to fight cancer and it’s with Relay for Life. Is this a shameless plug for an event? Not shameless. Just honest. Relay for Life of Eden Prairie, the American Cancer Society event that occurs every July in our community, raises money to fight cancer. Eighty-nine percent of money raised goes into research, advocacy, education and programs.

The 2009 Relay for Life will be on July 17 at the Central Middle School at 6 p.m. Don’t tell me it’s too far off to put on your calendar. Don’t tell me that 2009 is next year and you’ll think about it after the holidays. I’m asking you to think about it now. Mark it down now. Start a team now. Get more information anytime at www.eprelay.org.

So am I doing enough? It’s probably not the right question after all. Because I am beginning to realize that doing the best I can is enough to achieve almost anything.

Jody Russell is a resident of Eden Prairie.