Cancer survivors, children, businesses and many others will come to together at Clarkston Junior High for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life from 10 a.m. on June 17 through 10 a.m. on June 18.
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, where teams of people camp overnight and walk laps on the track.
The event kicks off with a ‘Victory Lap? by cancer survivors and then others take over walking during the 24 hour event. At dusk, there is a Luminaria Ceremony which pays tribute to those who faced cancer.
In addition to the walk, there will be booths set up with things like root beer floats, snow cones and crafts sold to raise money.
The Relay For Life will also feature a children’s bicycle rodeo, volleyball and tug-of-war tournaments, a box car derby, a scavenger hunt, limbo and hula-hoop contests, an auction, the Clarkston Swing Band and many other attractions designed to raise money for cancer research.
Event Chairman Kim Fischer said the event raised over $120,000 last year and the goal is to raise over $140,000 this year.
Fischer has worked at the event for several years and started because she lost several family members to cancer. She said the event is a great way to raise money and honor cancer victims.
‘We want to raise awareness,? Fischer said. ‘We want people to get screened. We also want to honor anybody who has been through a cancer situation. The event is a time to reflect on the past and look to the future for a cure. Our goal is to try and stamp out cancer in our lifetime.?
Many local businesses will be helping raise money. One local business involved again this year is Randolph’s Hair Salon. The salon will have a team giving hair cuts with a minimum donation of $10 to the event. Owner Scott Randolph said last year they raised around $3,000 and hope to raise more this year.
‘We are doing the work inexpensive to give back to the community,? Randolph said. ‘We raise thousands of dollars and it all goes to the American Cancer Society. One of our employees in the Waterford location is a cancer survivor so she will be there.?
In addition to the businesses, many of the teams raising money are comprised of local residents.
Clarkston High School student Kelsey Merz is the captain of the Clarkston United Methodist Church team. Merz has already raised $3,500 and will be on hand trying to raise more.
‘We will be walking and selling Relay For Life magnets and frisbees,? Merz said. ‘Our pastor (Rick Dake) will be participating in the Mr. Relay, where a male team member dresses as a girl to raise money. It’s a great 24 hours. It’s interesting to see so many people come together for a great cause.?
Merz has participated in the event the last three years before becoming the captain of her team this year. She said she got involved because many of her family members have had cancer, including her mother.
Merz’s mother Jane will be one of over 200 survivors American Cancer Society member Kelli McCoy expects to be at the event.
The survivors will wear purple survivor shirts and walk around sharing their stories. McCoy said the cancer survivors are what the event is all about.
‘The event is designed to celebrate all advancements made in cancer research and the survivors are a reminder of those advancements,? McCoy said. ‘Relay for Life is a celebration of survivorship and it’s an opportunity for the American Cancer Society to teach and advocate education and prevention?
Relay For Life was founded by Dr. Gordy Klatt in 1985. He decided to run for 24 hours at his local high school’s track with the idea that cancer never sleeps. The event held in Tacoma, Washington raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society.
He later invited teams of friends and families to join him in the future. Today, more than 4,000 communities across the United States host their own Relay For Life and have raised over one billion dollars for cancer research.
For more information on this year’s event or to see a list of times for the event visit www.acsevents.org/mi/relay/clarkston.