Relay For Life
May 5, 2010
Filed under Student Life, Top Stories
Relay for Life is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Photo courtesy of www.relayforlife.org
By: Christina Bahena
For many years now the American Cancer Society has hosted it’s annual Relay for Life. Relay for Life is an event that gives communities a night to celebrate the lives of family, friends or loved ones who are battling cancer. Remember those who have lost their battle and fight back, to help find a cure. The relay is an all night event where teams camp out in a local area. Throughout the night teams interact with others in the community by playing games or participating in fundraisers, but teams must have at least one member either walking or running to represent them on the track. Every Relay for Life is different since this is an event that is taken on by people around the world.
With less than a hundred days left, Relay for Life teams in Garland are putting together fundraisers to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life Garland will host its fundraiser at Naaman Forest High School. It will be held on May 22-23 and will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 5 a.m. So far the city of Garland has 342 participants, 31 teams including clubs and organizations from our very own Lakeview Centennial High School are participating and have raised $28,085.77.
“I am grateful and willing to spend time volunteering to raise money and awareness.” Senior HOSA member Lindsey Ngo, said.
“I want to do Relay for Life, because I want to inspire others to not give up and continue living for their faith,” senior Juby Samuel, the daughter of a cancer patient said.
Garland’s relay consists of three parts including “Celebrate”, “Remember” and “Fight back”.
“Celebrate”, which is also known as the survivors lap, is held at the beginning of the relay. Survivors are invited to the track along with all who are participating and everyone walks around the track.
“Remember”, which is the Luminaria Ceremony is held after dark and people who had or have cancer are honored. Candles are lit in a bag filled with sand, and the name of a person that has been touched by cancer. Participants usually walk a lap in silence.
“Fight Back”, is a ceremony where all who participated make the pledge to help the fight against cancer. One can help fight back by either donating to the American Cancer Society or joining or making a team for next year’s Relay for life.
“I expect to make something positive out of the negative. I am confident that somebody there will be a cure and I would have the satisfaction of knowing that I played a small role at this fundraiser,” Samuel said.
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