Relay For Life in Central Florida - Join the Movement
January 31, 2017
NEWS
from the American Cancer SocietyFor media inquiries, contact:
Elizabeth Watkins
407.843.8680
Elizabeth.Watkins@cancer.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMMUNITY TO UNITE TO FIGHT CANCER
American Cancer Society Relay For Life Kicks Off in Central Florida
WHAT/WHY:
All across Central Florida, community members will unite at a rally to officially launch their annual Relay For Life season. Thousands of participants will ring in the new season with a rally that educates everyone on how their involvement benefits the American Cancer Society’s goal to save lives and create more birthdays. Money raised will fight cancer by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back.
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a community celebration where individuals and teams camp out, picnic, dance, play games and take turns circling around a track “relay” style to raise funds and fight cancer. The event opens as cancer survivors lead the way around the track and are honored with the Survivor Lap. As the sun begins to set, the warm glow of hundreds of luminaria light the field in an emotional silent ceremony. Each bag lit is in honor of a loved one who won the fight against cancer or in remembrance of a special someone who lost their battle. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life represents hope in that those lost to cancer will not be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day, cancer will be eliminated.
Started in 1985, Relay For Life began with one man who circled around a track for 24 hours raising $27,000. This year, Relay For Life has grown to more than 5,200 communities and more than 25 countries worldwide.
WHO:
Dozens of families, caregivers, cancer survivors, schools, local organizations, individuals, and the American Cancer Society.
WHERE & WHEN:
Visit http://www.relayforlife.org for an event near you
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives and help people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; being a support system for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer; and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1.800.227.2345 or visit cancer.org.
Contact:
Dorothy Hardee, Account Manager, Hospitals
dorothy.hardee@cancer.org, (407) 843-8680
