Relay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. It offers communities an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Relay For Life originated in the United States and is on the rise to other countries around the world. Relay events are held in campus universities, military bases, and local communities just like Evelyn Greer Park on April 9 to April10.
“All of us have been working since mid September,” Debi Strochak, Co-chair of Pinecrest Relay for Life, said. “We have been creating this grassroots event together to raise funds for, bring about awareness to, and gain the community involvement to Fight Cancer.”
The main objective of Relay For Life is to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients. The event is held to spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and unite a community in the fight against cancer.
“I am a 13 year Breast Cancer Survivor. I have tried to pay my blessings forward to help those as others helped me,” Strochak said.
The 18-hour overnight carnival-like event brings a diverse section of the community together. Since Relay For Life is more of a community gathering instead of an athletic event, anyone from the community is welcomed. Schools, businesses, Churches, Synagogues, family, and friends from around the community have come together to form over 35 teams that have been raising money for months. Each team has ten to fifteen people camping out while others take turns walking, jogging, or running around the path.
The teams are the major part about the Relay. Before the event, a team could fundraise and educate visitors about their chosen cancer fact. Each team sets up a tent and will sell food and beverages; they might even include an activity for guests.
On April 9th at eight a.m. the teams will transform Evelyn Greer Park into CandyLand, this year’s theme; each team represents a different candy. The requirements: a banner, research on a cancer they have chosen and must display prominently, sell a food item, have an activity, and try to raise money at the tent to add to the team’s already collected funds.
While all these activities go on around the park, there will be day in and day out entertainment to keep the carnival fun and lively during the nighttime hours.
“If you ask “why all night?” one reason is – the 24 hours we are out there represents ALL of the stages as a Cancer Survivors life,” Strochak said. “The other reason is, “Cancer Never Sleeps” so one day a year, neither do we.”
