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Relay for Life Information
What is RELAY?
Relay For Life
is a unique fund-raising event that allows participants from all walks of
life, including patients, medical support staff, local businesses,
friends, families, corporations, civic organizations, churches and
community volunteers to join together to fight cancer. Team members sell
food, play games, walk or run around the track, camp-out, and have lots of
fun socializing during this celebration of cancer survivorship. Last year,
over 10,000 Personians attended and Person County's Relay For Life raised
$206,,000 for the American Cancer Society. We were named a top 10 fund-raiser (per-capita) in the
nation once again. Relay reminds us that progress has
been made in the fight against cancer, and that everyone who participates
is making a difference!
What happens at RELAY?
The opening ceremony
is dedicated to our cancer survivors. Cancer survivors from all over the
community are encouraged to join us in the first lap as a celebration of
their victory. This is an emotional time and it sets the stage for the
importance of each participant's contribution. Last year we celebrated
with over 200 survivors as they lined the track to Relay.
Later in the evening, we have a luminary ceremony. Candles are placed in
luminary bags that are purchased in the names of cancer victims. The
luminary bags outline the Relay Track and the ceremony is held after dark
to honor cancer survivors and to remember those who have lost their battle
against cancer. This is a very touching and meaningful ceremony as you see
family members lighting candles in memory and honor of their loved ones.
Last year we prepared the highest number of luminary bags in Person
County's Relay history, lighting over 5,000 candles in glowing tribute to
those touched by cancer.
Who Participates?
Teams are organized by friends, relatives, local businesses, hospitals,
schools, churches, service clubs and other organizations. Anyone can
participate in the Relay For Life.
Benefits
In addition to being the national signature
fundraising event for the American Cancer Society (ACS), the Relay for
Life is a family-oriented community celebration of giving and hope.
"It's
About Being A Community That Takes Up The Fight..."
Eight million people in the United States are
survivors of cancer. The funds raised in the fight against cancer in
events like the Relay for Life help researchers and scientists make it
possible for people to not just be victims of cancer - but to become
survivors. The ultimate goal of the ACS is to eliminate cancer as a health
risk - for everyone.
,This chart
illustrates how the ACS utilizes the contributions it receives each year.
How
the American Cancer Society
Uses Your Contribution
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