LINWOOD – The American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life will be held 6 p.m. Friday, May 13 through 6 a.m. Saturday, May 14 at Mainland Regional High School, 1301 Oak Ave.
Participants stay overnight to recognize that cancer doesn’t sleep and neither will they until a cure is found. Teams of friends, family, and co-workers are invited to come together and participate. Teams fund raise prior to Relay and at the event.
Cancer survivors are the guests of honor at Relay for Life. They along with their caregivers will be featured at the opening ceremonies, in Survivor and Caregiver Laps around the track, and with a complimentary dinner reception.
Throughout the night, participants walk around the track to raise money for cancer. There also are events from Zumba to volleyball, wing eating contests, and more. A highlight of the night is the luminaria service, a candlelight vigil held at nightfall (typically around 9 p.m.) to honor survivors and to remember those lost to cancer. Luminaria candles line the track and are left burning throughout the night as a reminder to participants the importance of their involvement in the Relay for Life event. The candles are placed in bags with names and pictures of loved ones.
Since the first Relay for Life, held in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington, Relay for Life has raised more than $5 billion at more than 5,200 events throughout the country.
Relay for Life is open to anyone who wants to participate. Volunteers of all ages are welcome.
To find out more about Relay for Life, to register a team or to purchase a luminaria, please visit www.RelayForLife.org/LinwoodNJ, or email monica.nammour@cancer.org. For questions, call/text Karen at 609-432-1836.
