WINNEMUCCA - Walkers will go around the clock in the battle against cancer when the 2012 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Winnemucca gets under way with teams of residents gathering at Lowry High School's football field on Saturday, July 21.
Opening ceremonies will kick off the event with the Survivor Lap at 10 a.m., followed by team introductions. The event's closing ceremony is slated for 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning and will include a balloon release.
The entire 24-hour event is open to the public - it is not just for people who are directly involved with teams or signed up; anyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend. Events throughout the weekend include a roping contest, twister in the grass, frozen T-shirt contest, WJHS dance performance, self-defense demonstration, tire relay, Luminaria ceremony, karaoke contest and Zumba, among many others. There will also be activities for children, entertainment, raffles, food and items for purchase. All of the money raised onsite will benefit the American Cancer Society's research and prevention programs. People will also have a chance to sign-up with a team during the event, but only if desired. Registered team members will take turns walking laps around the track throughout the 24-hour period.
Across the country, Relay For Life events are held overnight as individuals and teams camp out at an athletic track, park or other gathering area, with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times throughout the evening. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during Relay. Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups - people from all walks of life - all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society's efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, by helping them get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.
"Relay is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we've lost, and fight back against the disease," said Anda Latham, who is the event chair. "Many of the participants are cancer survivors, which serves as a reminder that Winnemucca is not immune to this disease and that by participating in Relay, we are joining with the American Cancer Society's efforts to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays."
Funds raised at Relay For Life of Winnemucca are enabling the American Cancer Society to impact the lives of those touched by cancer within the community.
The event's Luminaria Ceremony takes place after sundown, honoring the community's cancer survivors and remembering those lost to the disease. Participants will circle a track that is surrounded with glowing luminaria that bear the name of someone who has battled cancer. Luminaria may be purchased onsite for a donation of $10. Also a part of Winnemucca's event is the "Fight Back" Ceremony, in which a community leader will inspire Relay participants with his or her own commitment and will challenge them to take a personal pledge of action (e.g., stop smoking, eat more healthily, exercise regularly, etc.) in fighting back.
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; by helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
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