It's time again For ABC Wednesday. If you aren't participating in ABC Wednesday, you are missing out on a lot of fun. This week the letter is"R". R is for Relay For Life. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people across the country each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much.
My wife and I are co-chairs of the Polk County Relay For Life. The event was originally scheduled for April 17th, but on April 9th a tornado devastated a large part of Mena including Janssen Park where the Relay was to be held.
MENA TORNADO DAMAGE
The Relay For Life has been rescheduled for May 29th. Most of the 28 teams that were set to participate on the original date plan to be there on the 29th.
U.S.E.M. FEDERAL CREDIT UNION TEAM
What is going to happen that night? The teams will set up at the park with fundraisng ideas. There will be plenty of food, and lots of other fun activities.
The entire community is invited to come to the park and help celebrate. The evening kicks off with the Survivor Lap. Relay is a big celebration to celebrate our cancer survivors. Over 100 have signed up with us to walk in that opening Survivor lap.
We also honor Caregivers. To be the physical and emotional support for a cancer patient is a tough but very important job, and we honor those individuals.
After these special laps around the park, the teams start walking with the goal of keeping at least one person from each team on the track at all times. Relay starts at 6:00 P.M. and continues until Saturday morning with the closing ceremonies starting at 10:00 A.M. We go through the night because cancer never sleeps.
All evening there are lots of activities. There will be live music with a great program being put together by Richie Owens.
Highlighting the evening is a luminaria Ceremony of Hope held after dark to honor cancer survivors and to remember loved ones lost to cancer. The luminaria candles line the track and are left burning throughout the night.
Last year local Relay For Life team members raised over $60,000.00. To give you a bit of an idea of what the money is used for, here are the largest categories. Patient Support 20%; Prevention 20%; Detection and Treatment 16%; Research 14%.
Relay For Life brings people together and empowers them. Celebrate - Remember - Fight Back.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteAwesome "R" post! What a great cause and your photos are awesome!! Thanks for sharing! Have a great day!!
Sherrie
Wow, well done! Strong and fascinating, it's great to see what people can do when they come together.
ReplyDeleteTake Care
Tyra
What a wonderful post!!! Such a thrill to see all these people making a difference!!! Thank you for all you do for relay! You are an inspiration! Again, a terrific post! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've nominated you for the Noblesse Oblige Award...visit my blog to pick it up! Congrats...you certainly fit the award's description! I'm proud to know you. ~Janine
Hi Richie that's a great cause and very important, for in the past years almost anybody among my relatives and friends who passed away, died of cancer, including my husband.I wish you a very great ceremony and hope you raise a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteImportant work you're doing! And lovely photos to accompany.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post!!! What a terrific cause... I am very fond of these relays!!
ReplyDeleteYou do great work with all of this. I remember that I first heard the word Luminaria on one of your posts.
ReplyDeleteI'm late visiting, but I want to thank you on behalf of the Team.
That looks like fun !
ReplyDeleteI want to send you a donation! Do you have pay pal? I was SO excited to see that Chick Fil A had Relay for Life jars at the counter! I gave a donation and thought of you! I am so glad you brought this wonderful cause to my attention!
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