Beverly Smith, Sequoyah County Relay for Life co-chair, said, "This celebration of life brings together numerous groups and individuals concerned about cancer for a unified effort to fight back."
Smith and her fellow co-chairs are asking individuals to participate alone or as teams and for sponsors to join in the relay to fight cancer.
Smith said teams of enthusiastic citizens will gather at the Sallisaw football stadium for an overnight relay to join the fight against cancer from 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27, until 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 28.
Smith said, "Relay For Life is a life-changing event that brings together more than five million people every year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and empower individuals and communities to fight back against a disease that takes so much."
The Relay For Life opens as cancer survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer) walk or use a wheelchair to complete the first lap. This is an emotional time that sets the stage of the importance of each participant's contribution. A festive atmosphere develops around the track. As walkers make new friends and spend time with old ones, the relay heats up and the camp-out begins. An atmosphere of camaraderie is created with team members entertaining each other: eating, playing games and, of course, walking for a great cause.
Highlighting the evening is the luminaria ceremony, which takes place after dark to honor cancer survivors and to remember those who have been lost. Luminaria line the track and are left burning throughout the night to remind participants of the importance of their efforts.
"Relay For Life is as much an awareness raiser about the progress against cancer as it is a fundraiser," Smith said. "Many of the participants will be people who have dealt with cancer themselves. Their involvement is proof of the progress that has been made in improving cancer survival rates and the quality of life following cancer treatment.
"The funds raised will enable us to continue our investment in the fight against cancer through educational programs, research, advocacy, and services to patients," Smith said. "Due to the generosity of corporate sponsors like Borg-Warner Morse-Tec, Armstrong Bank, Arvest Bank, First National Bank, National Bank of Sallisaw, and Hamilton's Fast Stop, the money raised by participants comes back to our community by directly benefiting all of the American Cancer Society's lifesaving programs."
Information about how to become a corporate sponsor, form a team or become involved in Relay For Life is available by contacting Smith at (918) 774-4902, co-chair Terry McCarty at (918) 774-6235, or event Finance Chair Bev Taylor at (918) 776-0070. For more information about cancer, call the American Cancer Society's 24-hour help-line at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www. cancer.org.
