JACKSON — The glitz and glamour of Hollywood will make its way to Jackson in May when the 2015 Relay for Life takes place at Jackson Liberty High School, North Hope Chapel Road.
Event organizers recently met with potential Relay for Life participants to unveil this year’s theme — “Movies: Past and Present.”
“We are trying to find a cure for cancer in our lifetime,” event lead Kathy Clarke said. “Cancer touches everybody’s life.”
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that at the beginning of 2014 there were about 14.5 million American cancer survivors.
The ACS estimates that by 2024 that number will have increased to about 19 million cancer survivors.
According to the ACS, there will be about 1.7 million new cancer diagnoses and nearly 590,000 cancer deaths in America this year.
Clarke said about 80 percent of funds that are raised through Relay for Life events around the United States go toward research into potential cures for cancer.
“[We want it] so that when you are told you have cancer, it’s like you are being told you have the flu,” she said.
Clarke said the goal for the 2015 Relay for Life in Jackson is to raise at least $40,000, which would mark a $10,000 increase from 2014’s final tally.
Relay for Life participants will check in at 3 p.m. May 15. Individuals and teams will walk through the night and participate in various activities until the event ends on the morning of May 16.
A luminaria ceremony will honor those individuals who have lost their battle with cancer.
“I have been told [our luminaria ceremony] is the best in the state,” Clarke said. “It is very somber, we have a survivor speaker, we do a survivor lap and we have a bagpipe player, which probably makes it such a tearjerker.”
Clarke said a “spirit ceremony” will honor teams who have been especially active during the Relay for Life event.
“We are trying to make it more of a competition — not only so much with the fundraising, but also the fun events,” she said.
During the evening, teams that participate in various activities will receive “spirit points.” The teams that earn the most points will be recognized for their enthusiasm.
To participate in the 2015 Jackson Relay for Life, visit www.relayforlife.org. Donations may be made through the website.
— Andrew Martins