Relay for Life
What is
Relay For Life?
Try to imagine a giant moving slumber party with hundreds of guests.
Teams of walkers from businesses, churches, schools, organizations,
families and neighborhoods join cancer survivors (the honored
guests) and their families for what we know as Relay For Life.
We
'Celebrate' our survivors as they walk the first lap. From
that point on, teams start walking with each team having
representation on the track for 24 hours. After dark,
luminaries bags are lit to 'Remember' those surviving and battling
cancer and in memory of those who have lost their lives to the
disease. Entertainment, kids activities, colorfully decorated
tents, prizes, games and fun for all ages round out the Relay
experience. There is also information about the American
Cancer Society's educational programs, research, patient services
and advocacy efforts.
The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life is a celebration of
life...thanks to rapidly advancing technology, early detection and
prevention more people survive today than ever before. Relay
For Life is a lot more than just another fund raiser. It is
about being a community that takes up the fight against cancer,
coming together for a common cause. It serves to remind us
that, although progress continues to be made in the crusade against
cancer, so much more needs to be done.
In addition to raising monies, Relay For Life provides a platform
for raising cancer awareness and connecting communities to all of
the American Cancer Society's programs and services. Through
cancer research, community education, patient services and advocacy,
the American Cancer Society works through Relay For Life to save
lives.
Celebrating 25 Years of HOPE...
During May 2009, Relay For Life will reach the milestone of 25 years
of community presence and action in the fight against cancer.
Since 1985, Relay For Life has grown from one man- Dr. Gordy Klatt,
who walked, jogged and ran around a track in Tacoma for 24 hours
raising money for his local American Cancer Society unit- to a
movement to eliminate cancer that now takes place in 5,000
communities in the United States and in 19 foreign countries.
More that 3.5 million people participate in the life-changing event,
which has raised over $3 billion to fund the American Cancer
Society's mission.
During 2009, the American Cancer Society will be "Celebrating 25
Years of HOPE." ACS will celebrate how Relay is a worldwide
movement to eliminate cancer and how Relayers have helped the ACS in
their mission of research, education, advocacy and patient services.
St. Andrew's Relay For Life
The St. Andrew's Relay For Life team started in 1999 by Shari Hyde
and Denise Cox. The first year, the team raised $1,834 and
that number has grown each year. Bette Worth, Annette Pinckney
and Korri Miller became co-captains of the team in 2007.
Through
year-round fund raising efforts, the team raised an astonishing
$61,580.04 in 2008 and won two awards at the Grays Harbor Relay,
Highest Fund Raising Team and Most Inspirational Team.
Recently, the team was invited to the ACS Great West Leadership
Summit in Reno, Nevada. The team was invited to present on
their successes and challenges. The team also was recognized
as a 'Top Fundraiser' (any team over $20,000) and came in with the
fourth highest grand total in the division (comprised of 12 states
and over 17,000 teams.) St. Andrew's Relay For Life was also
recognized as a National Team of Excellence.
Relay Update: :Thank you so much for your continued support of Relay for Life. It was wonderful to see so many members of St. Andrews family at the relay - walking, volunteering and just hanging out around our campsite. We congratulate our 24 hour walkers: Brittany Hyde, Nichole Swisher, Rachell and Marelle Anderson, Lexi Wong, Claire and Rob Cox, and Mert Turner. We also thank Skip Kohl who completed his amazing 10 mile run around the track to raise money for our team. We are thrilled with our grand total -- $61,681.29! A bit more than last year. We recently discovered that we ranked 18th in the nation last year and we will be excited to see how well we do this year. Thank you all!
Your Team Captains, Annette, Bette, and Korri
As a part of our on going efforts to raise funds for the relay for life, we make and sell Hope Bracelets!
