June 2005
Grand
Island, New York—June 1, 2005–In
towns across Western New York, neighbors will come together for a single cause
– to fight cancer and honor survivors. Grand Island residents will join
4,200 other communities across America in a celebration of survivorship and hope
at the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. The overnight event is a
movement that has swept the nation since its inception in 1985. Relay For Life
is the largest grassroots fundraiser in the world and is designed to give
everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer.
Survivors
of all ages will walk around the Grand Island High School track in a victory lap
and friends will honor loved ones lost to the disease in an evening candlelight
vigil. Caregivers will also be honored with a special ceremony and lap in their
honor. The overnight event joins teams of 10 to 15 people who camp out at
community sites and take turns circling a track or path to raise awareness and
funds to support cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services in
the community. This year, the event will be held at Grand Island High School
Track and will run from 6:00 p.m. on
Friday,
June 10th until 8:00
a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2005.
Relay For Life opens as cancer survivors walk, run, or otherwise move
around the track for the first lap. This is an emotional time and sets the stage
for the importance of each participant's contribution. A festive atmosphere
always develops around the track area as participants make new friends and spend
time with old ones. Highlighting the evening is the luminaria service held after
dark to honor cancer survivors and to remember loved ones lost to cancer. The
luminaria candles line the track and are left burning throughout the night to
remind participants of the incredible importance of their contributions.
For those who participate in Relay For Life, the event represents
the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face
cancer will be supported, and that the disease will be one day be eliminated.
Since the first Relay For Life was held in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash., the event has
raised over $1 billion. In 2004, Relay For Life raised more than $300 million.
The
American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health
problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through
research, education, advocacy and service. The American Cancer Society Eastern
Division has 46 community-based offices, involving thousands of volunteers
throughout New York and New Jersey. For 24-hour cancer information, call
toll-free
1-800-ACS-2345
or visit www.cancer.org.
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