Cancer survivors and their caregivers are the guests of honor during Relay For Life on Saturday, May 16, at Richland Creek Community Church in Wake Forest.
During the annual American Cancer Society event, survivors can start their day with a free pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Plates include three hotcakes, two sausage patties and coffee or juice.
After breakfast, survivors are celebrated during Relay’s opening ceremony at 11 a.m. Survivors take the celebratory first lap. As survivors walk, event participants cheer them on in a demonstration of support and celebration. From noon to 6 p.m., the Survivor/Caregiver Tent remains open for snacks, relaxation, etc.
Then at 6:30 p.m., cancer survivors are the guests of honor for a barbecue dinner. To RSVP for either meal, register online at www.relayforlife.org/NorthernWakeNC. For more details, contact Michelle Tyson at 919-426-7733 or tysonfour@ymail.com, or email Melissa Kobelinski at kobelinski@cancer.org.
At 8:30 p.m., a luminary ceremony takes place, with each candle honoring those battling cancer and remembering those lost to cancer. Luminaria with a white bag are $10 each, gold bags are $25, and lanterns are $50) in honor, and may be purchased at Relay or ordered online at www.relayforlife.org/NorthernWakeNC.
Thanks in part to events like Relay, the five-year survival rate for all cancers has risen to 68 percent, and there are an estimated 14 million Americans alive today who have been diagnosed with the disease.
Relay For Life is a community event where teams set up campsites and take turns walking in a show of solidarity for those who’ve faced cancer. Each team has at least one participant on the track at all times.
Cancer survivors and caregiver who’d like to take part may sign up at www.RelayForLife.org/NorthernWakeNC, or contact co-chair Marty Coward at 919-760-3520 or martycoward@nc.rr.com.
