In towns across New Jersey, neighbors will come together for a single cause — to fight cancer and honor survivors.
Local residents will join 3,800 other communities across America in a celebration of survivorship and hope at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
According to a press release, Relay for Life is the largest grassroots fund-raiser in the world and is designed to give everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer.
Survivors of all ages will walk around the track in a victory lap, and friends will honor loved ones lost to the disease in an evening candlelight vigil. Caregivers will also be honored with a special ceremony and lap in their honor. The overnight event joins teams of 10 to 15 people who camp out at community sites and take turns circling a track or path to raise awareness and funds to support cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services in the community. This year, local events will be held at the following locations:
June 7-8 at Freehold Raceway, Freehold Township; June 7-8 at New Egypt High School, Plumsted; and June 27-28 at FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood.
Relay for Life opens as cancer survivors walk, run, or otherwise move around the track for the first lap. The luminaria service is 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 to remind participants of the importance of their contributions.
Since the first Relay for Life was held in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash., the event has raised more than $977 million, according to a press release from the American Cancer Society. In 2003, Relay for Life will break the $1 billion mark. For more details, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the Web site www.cancer.org.