February 12, 2009

Get ready for Relay For Life

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Relay For Life, the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society.

The Relay For Life of Almaden 2009 kick-off will be held on Sunday, Feb. 22, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Unwined Wine Bar & Shop, 6946 Almaden Expressway.

“This year’s Kick Off is designed as an open house to make it quick and easy to stop by, see what’s new with Relay, register teams and team members and sign up survivors, sponsors and volunteers,” said Karen Zimmerman, event chair.

This is Almaden’s third Relay, which will take place June 27-28 at the Pat Tillman Stadium track at Leland High School. During the first two seasons, the community has contributed more than $300,000 to the American Cancer Society.

“The personal involvement and financial support by our families and friends, as well as businesses and civic groups in our community, is truly remarkable,” said Marj Moehrke, event co-chair.

Relay For Life events take place in nearly 5,000 communities in the U.S. and account for more than 48 percent of all of the funding for the American Cancer Society. The contributions are used to fight cancer through research, education and advocacy, and to offer free programs and services to patients and their families.

“One of our goals is to extend the impact of Relay For Life year-round to increase awareness of the programs and services provided by the American Cancer Society,” said Sandra Kennedy Jonaidi, Mission/Fight Back chair.

Relay For Life celebrates survivors, remembers those lives lost to the disease, and fights back against cancer.

For more information, please contact Zimmerman at AlmadenRelayForLife@yahoo.com or Relay Manager Allison Knapel at (408) 688-0087 or allison.knapel@cancer.org. To register a team or a survivor, visit www.relayforlife.org/almadenca. For 24-hour access to cancer information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.