This year’s Relay for Life was a wonderful, and touching,
success. Organizers, who raked in $164,000 in 2003 to fight cancer,
set their sights on raising $175,000 this time around. After all
was said and done this weekend, the community raised $197,000 to
fight the deadly disease.
This year’s Relay for Life was a wonderful, and touching, success. Organizers, who raked in $164,000 in 2003 to fight cancer, set their sights on raising $175,000 this time around. After all was said and done this weekend, the community raised $197,000 to fight the deadly disease.
The statistics on the toll that cancer takes on our lives are cold and hard. One in every four deaths is caused by cancer. One out of two men and one out of three women are at risk of getting cancer in their lifetime. In 2003, more than 1.3 million new cancer cases were diagnosed. Everyone knows someone with cancer or has battled the deadly disease themselves.
But this community’s response to those cold, hard facts was heartwarming. The spirit of everyone who participated in the 24-hour walk-a-thon at Andy Hardin Field on Friday and Saturday was uplifting.
It was a sight to see – survivors, families, friends and solo walkers all united for a single cause. Finding a cure.
While the cause is a solemn one, the event ran a gamut of emotions. There was a sense of camaraderie among the walkers, a solemnity as luminarias were lit to honor victims of the disease.
There was a lot of laughter and fun as people met up with old friends and made new ones.
Teams pitched tents and created a festival atmosphere. From camping out to pitching in, fun was had by all. It was inspirational to see so many people gathering for an important cause, and it was a great time.
Relay For Life began in May 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, an avid runner, took the first step of his 24-hour walk/run around a track after Washington state and in 83 miles raised $27,000 to support the American Cancer Society.
The following year, the event grew from one man to 220 supporters, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life was born. Since then, it has spread to 4,200 communities in the United States and eight foreign countries.
Finding ways to treat the disease is a cause everyone can support – and we’re proud of how this community rose to the call to find a cure this weekend. Together, we will beat this disease, one lap at a time.
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