The 13th annual Relay for Life in DeKalb County will be held starting Friday, June 4th at Greenbrook Park, going all night until early Saturday morning, June 5th.
The Relay for Life is usually held on Mother’s Day weekend in May, but Casey Midgett, the DeKalb County Chairman for Relay, says the committee decided to change the date, hoping for a little dryer weather. “We just met as a group late last year and decided that maybe moving it to June would be something that might benefit everybody. We’re at least going to try it this year so on Friday, June 4th we’ll have our Relay for Life and we’re looking forward to it. We’re going to start praying that it doesn’t rain.”
“Relay is a 12 hour event. You know, cancer never sleeps so we’re going to be there all night in support of those who have cancer, who have won the battle against it, or who have lost their lives to it.”
“Our goal is $100,000 this year but we’d like to do even better than that. We raised $80,000 last year but we’d like to get back to that point ($100,000) because this money comes back to us here. We send a lot of it to research to try and find a cure so we don’t even have to do this (fund raising) anymore. But a lot of people don’t realize that people who suffer from cancer in DeKalb County can have access to some of the money that is raised, not simply through ours but all the relays that are done, when they’re battling cancer. When they’re going to the hospitals in Nashville and having to deal with this, we have programs out there that will help these people with transportation or if they have to stay down there we’ll help them with lodging. We call it a HOPE lodge. It’s basically a house/hotel type place where they can stay for free. They just have to go through the channels to get that. So it’s not all going just for research, it’s also going for practical purposes to try to help someone who is suffering from this. You don’t want to have to worry about money when you’re having to deal with this (cancer) and if we can take that worry from you, then I think we’ve done a good job.”
Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature event, is a fun-filled overnight experience designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer. At Relay, people from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against this disease. Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society in its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health issue. During Relay For Life events, teams of people gather and take turns walking or running laps. The events are held overnight to represent the fact that cancer never sleeps. Through the survivors’ lap and the luminaria ceremony, the people who have faced cancer first hand are honored, and those who have been lost to this disease are remembered.
But, Relay isn’t about taking laps — it’s about coming together in the fight against cancer. It’s a time to remember those lost to this disease and celebrate those who have survived. It’s a place where people connect with others, share the cancer experience, and find comfort and solace. And it’s an opportunity to build hope for a future where cancer no longer threatens the lives of the people we love.
As volunteers and donors, your efforts support research, education, advocacy, and services that allow the American Cancer Society to offer help and hope to people across the country when they need it most. By joining together at Relay, we celebrate life, friendship, and an opportunity to work to defeat cancer for future generations.
On June 4th, the community will gather together as one group to help in the battle against cancer. At Greenbrook Park in Smithville, dozens of teams, volunteers, community leaders, and citizens will enjoy the annual Relay for Life event. Plans are to have lots of entertainment and food available that evening, starting at around 6:00 pm. Planning for the Relay is a year round event and the organizers hope that you will enjoy what they have in store for you. Relay is the largest community event held in DeKalb County. Please join in for this special night and have lots of fun helping raise money.
For more information about participating in Relay for Life, contact Casey Midgett, Lynn Miller, or Iva dell Randolph
Meanwhile, on the second weekend in June, a 5K and One Mile Fun Run will be held to benefit Relay for Life. “It’s the Relay 5K and it’ll be held on Saturday, June 12th, the weekend after Relay for Life”, said Lynn Miller. ” It’s a 5K and a one mile Fun Run. All the money from that event will go to Relay for Life. If you’re interested in participating in the 5K and Fun Run, you can come by and see me at Regions Bank to pick up a form or you may contact Casey Midget. Forms are also available at other locations.”
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