What do you think of this story?

Click here to send a message to the editor.

Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Relay For Life is This Weekend!

At dusk on Friday night, over 260 Fayette County cancer survivors will walk the first lap of Relay For Life at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. Cancer survivors walk the initial lap, symbolizing the courage that survivors display and sustain in their lives. The cancer survivors will be joined by their caregivers for the second lap.

This is the community’s opportunity to honor the men and women who care for those with cancer. Then, 125 teams of youth, community groups, local business people, teachers and administrators, and everyday ordinary folks will start walking around a gravel paved track surrounded by unlit luminary bags, and they won't stop walking until sunrise on Saturday morning.

Relay For Life is a celebration of cancer survivorship and community spirit. Each year in 3,600 communities worldwide, more than 2.25 million people (including 460,000 cancer survivors) take part in this overnight event. In addition to honoring survivors, Relay For Life raises much-needed funds for American Cancer Society research, education, advocacy and patient services. Fayette County raised $292,000 in the 2004 Relay For Life and had 176 survivors participate. The goal for Relay For Life 2005 is to raise $350,000 and have 225 survivors participate.

Before anyone starts walking at the fairgrounds, a torch to light the luminaries will be relayed from the Old Fayette County Courthouse. An honor guard of motorcyclist from the Moo Cow Bikers of Fayette County will lead the torch bearers. Each person caring the torch is a cancer survivors or a patient currently undergoing treatment. The walkers/runners include employees or students from sixteen different Fayette County schools. They include students, administrators, teachers, nurses, and even a Delta Airlines pilot. The torch relay will commence at the courthouse at approximately 4:15 PM, turn on Beauregard Road, continue south on Redwine Road, turn into Highgrove subdivision, turn left on Bernard and cross Ga. Highway 85 to enter the fairgrounds from Goza Road. The torch will be used to light the torches and luminaries that have been purchased in honor or memorial of someone who has had cancer.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend Relay For Life. The event is a family friendly community building happening. Teams raising funds sell food, novelty items, and offer games of chance. There will be a rock climbing wall and other carnival type inflatables. There will be a memory tent where individuals can display photos or post memories of cancer patients, survivors, or those lost to the disease. Witnessing the Luminary Ceremony is a most memorable event.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. hundreds of luminaries that surround the inside and outside of the track will be lit. Each luminary has been purchased to honor, or in memorial, of someone who has battled cancer. Searching for a loved ones' luminary and then watching it glow through the night, reminds Relay participants that there is always hope. Hope for a cure, and hope for an end to cancer suffering.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life - Fayette County will be held on Friday, May 6th at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. The all night entertainment starts at 6 p.m. The Opening Ceremony starts at 7 p.m. and the luminary ceremony will be at 9:30 p.m. There will be a memorial ceremony to honor those who have had cancer and are no longer with us at midnight and a wrap up and closing ceremony will take place at dawn. Come join other members of our community and show your support of the teams fighting the battle against cancer. For more information about Relay For Life please contact Sheri Waynick, Community Income Manager at 770-460-8920.