Over 149 communities throughout Illinois will fight cancer this year through the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” events. The Ravenswood community will hold their relay beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, until Sunday at 7 a.m.
This is a unique all night and signature event for the Society which will be held at Winnemac Park, 5101 N. Leavitt St.
The event will raise funds for research, prevention, and early detection of cancer. It is also an opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors and to remember cancer victims who have perished.
Ald. Gene Schulter (47th) will be the honorary chair of the event which brings together friends, family, businesses, hospitals, schools, churches... people from all walks of life. Participants form teams of 10-12 people who take turns walking or running around a track in shifts throughout the relay. Team members camp out and enjoy food, entertainment, games, and camaraderie. A participant from each team must be on the track at all times during the event.
Team registration fee is $50. Each member is asked to raise a minimum of $100. Interested teams can register by contacting Sherry Howard at the American Cancer Society, (312) 577-6022, or by sending the $50 registration fee to American Cancer Society, Relay for Life of Ravenswood, 77 E. Monroe St., Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60603.
More than one million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year, 56,000 will be from Illinois. Relay for Life is about a community that takes an active roll in the fight against cancer.
Cancer affects the patient and those around the patient, and it enlists everyone in the battle of a lifetime. Nearly 80 percent of cancer patients diagnosed today survive; this survival rate is increased everyday through research and greater community awareness of cancer-related issues.
The idea of Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordon Klatt (a Tacoma, WA, surgeon and an American Cancer Society volunteer) ran and walked on a local track for 24 hours, traveling a total of 81 miles and raising $27,000. Since Dr. Klatt’s one-man marathon, thousands of people nationwide have passed the “baton” and raised millions of dollars for Relay for Life’s battle against cancer.
By supporting Relay for Life, people help fund programs in their own community and give hope to cancer patients. All proceeds will be used for research, education, and patient services. Similarly, the event provides a wonderful venue for the promotion and delivery of cancer control activities, including advocacy, prevention, and early detection.
The American Cancer Society is the leading nation-wide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, and advocacy and service. For information about Relay for Life or about cancer, call (800) ACS-2345 or visit their Web site www.cancer.org.
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