Annual Relay Raises Funds for Cancer Awareness

The annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life will kick off in April in Texas.

Last year I volunteered for the event and though I have lost some family and friends I didn't have the passion that I do this year.

My reason has been deepened this year since my boyfriend died New Year's Eve of liver cancer.

The Society holds team captain universities to get participants and volunteers involved and you can get more information at acsrelay.org.

You can send a torch relay around your community also to promote cancer awareness and prevention, to remember those who are still battling cancer, and honor those who have lost their battle. For example, in Virginia the Peninsula Relay Torch Relay takes a loop through Hampton and Newport News before returning to Todd Stadium and lighting a very large torch there.

"My husband and I created the torch relay for the Peninsula Relay For Life when our event outgrew its original site and the committee decided to open a second site in a nearby city," said Kathy Cawthon. "We began with a committee that solicited nominations for the honored torch bearers, and the committee agreed that these should be cancer survivors, caregivers, and medical professionals who work in the field of oncology. The first torch relay was such as a success that the original site said; ‘Now we want you to do it again next year and bring it back.'"

January was also cervical cancer awareness month.

"Your team captains are the ones who really make your event a success," said Ramesh Moorthy, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society in Baltimore, MD. "Now is the time of year many are holding their kick-off and first team captain meetings. Many events do a torch relay now. There is no finish line until we find a cure."

Moorthy said that as Relay for Life expands there is a great opportunity to build relationships with other events around the nation or even the world.

Some cancer survivors who are active in the relay take event materials to their doctor's offices and support groups.

The relay also hosts a survivor reception as part of the festivities.