February 14, 2008

Get set for this year’s Almaden Relay For Life

The weather has seemed quite spring-like the past couple of weeks and in the spring, people’s thoughts turn to Almaden’s Relay For Life.

This year marks the Almaden Community’s second relay, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on June 28 and run to 10 a.m. on June 29 at Leland High School. Last year, Almaden’s relay received a Pacesetter Award from the American Cancer Society; was the second “Baby Relay” in California, raising $153,682; and was the California Baby Relay with most teams – 40.

Relay For Life is a 24-hour event. Why 24 hours? Because cancer never sleeps. The relay consists of teams of friends, neighbors, families and coworkers who commit to have a walker or runner on the course for the entire 24 hours.

The event begins with a survivor’s lap, a sea of purple T-shirts walking together in unity of understanding and hope. As day turns to night, participants will light hundreds of luminaria around the track in an inspiring ceremony to honor cancer survivors as well as friends and family members who have died from the disease. Teams and team members raise funds, which are donated to the American Cancer Society in support of research, education, advocacy, and service.

Relay For Life began in 1985, when one man walked around a track for 24 hours raising $27,000. Since then the event has grown across the country and is held in more than 4,800 communities.

This overnight team event brings people together to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember those lost, and fight back against a disease that needs to be stopped. Almost all of us have been touch by cancer in some way.

There will be a kick-off event on Feb. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Legends Pizza Company, 5965 Almaden Expressway. Everyone is invited to learn more about the relay experience. Refreshments, prizes, information, and volunteer opportunities will be available.

For more information, contact Patti A. Gahagan, event chair at pgahagan@sbcglobal.net or (408) 497-9554.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by savings lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the society has 13 regional divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.