Community Corner

Relay for Life of Berkeley Kicks Off on Feb. 3

Kickoff party is tonight at 7 p.m.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Berkeley Township will be hosting their kickoff party on Feb. 3. Lacey Township also participates in this Relay.

“The kickoff party, which is tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Central Regional Middle School, is a place where people can come to learn more about Relay for Life,” Co-Chairperson Roxanne Stephens said.

There will be a short presentation to explain the event, Stephens said. The presentation will include a mini-luminaria ceremony and a “purple glove dance.” The event will also reveal the theme for the Relay as well as guest speakers- a including a cancer survivor and a successful team captain from last year.

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People can register for a team and important information will be provided to team captains. Cake and coffee wil be served and guests can view photos from previous events, she said.

The Relay for Life is an overnight community celebration in honor of cancer survivors and in memory of those who lost their lives, an American Cancer Society press release said.

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Teams and individual participants camp out, picnic, dance, play games, and run  laps around a track to raise funds to fight cancer.

The funds raised at the Relay goes to various programs provided by the American Cancer Society including the Reach to Recovery program, which introduces breast cancer patients to survivors trained to answer questions and provide support, Stephens said.

Money raised also goes to the Road to Recovery program, which provides cancer patients with transportation to and from their treatments, she said.

Funds also go to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge locations, which provide patients with a free place to stay during treatments and the Look Good…Feel Better program, which offers beauty counseling sessions for cancer patients, Stephens said.

There is also a silent ceremony with hundreds of luminaria.

Last year, about 400 people participated in the Relay for Life of Berkeley and over $65,000 was raised, Stephens said.

Currently 18 teams and 49 individuals have signed up. Brian Swanke of Team CWR is the top participant with $3,545, according to the release.

“The American Cancer Society Relay for Life represents hope in that those lost to cancer will not be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day, cancer will be eliminated,” the release said.

The Relay for Life of Berkeley will run from 12 p.m. on May 14 through 6 a.m. on May 15, at Veterans Park. For more information on the Relay, click here.


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