2012 Relay For Life kicks off Monday
by Sherrie Norris
Key leaders in the local Relay For Life task force will gather
with their team captains and other like-minded volunteers next week to launch a new year of
fundraising and community awareness.
The annual Watauga County Relay For Life Kickoff Rally is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church in Boone, where updates on the nationwide effort to fight cancer will be shared, as well as last year's local achievements honored.
Monday's gathering is also open to all new or potential team members who wish to learn more about the 2012 Relay event, scheduled for June 15 at Watauga County High School in Boone.
Watauga County has long been known for its “spirit of Relay” and has received national attention for its record-breaking participation — both monetarily and physical.
Described as “the world's largest grassroots fundraising movement” — and signature event of the American Cancer Society — Relay For Life rallies communities throughout the country to celebrate the strength of men, women, boys and girls who have battled cancer or are in the midst of their diagnosis, to memorialize loved ones who lost their battle and to provide participants with an opportunity to fight back against the disease by raising money for research and cancer-related programs.
“Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools and faith-based groups — from all walks of life — who share the vision of the ACS of creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays,” said Kathy Idol, who is returning for her second year as event chairwoman. “That's what we're all about.”
Relay For Life began in 1985 with one man who walked and ran around a track for 24 hours and raised $27,000 for the ACS.
From there, the concept practically exploded from coast to coast and eventually onto foreign soil.
This year, Relay For Life will take place in nearly 5,100 communities in the United States and 20 other countries and will raise funds to support the society's mission of saving lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back.
This year marks the 18th Relay For Life in Watauga County.
For more information, plan to attend Monday's kickoff or visit http://www.RelayForLife.org .
The annual Watauga County Relay For Life Kickoff Rally is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church in Boone, where updates on the nationwide effort to fight cancer will be shared, as well as last year's local achievements honored.
Monday's gathering is also open to all new or potential team members who wish to learn more about the 2012 Relay event, scheduled for June 15 at Watauga County High School in Boone.
Watauga County has long been known for its “spirit of Relay” and has received national attention for its record-breaking participation — both monetarily and physical.
Described as “the world's largest grassroots fundraising movement” — and signature event of the American Cancer Society — Relay For Life rallies communities throughout the country to celebrate the strength of men, women, boys and girls who have battled cancer or are in the midst of their diagnosis, to memorialize loved ones who lost their battle and to provide participants with an opportunity to fight back against the disease by raising money for research and cancer-related programs.
“Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools and faith-based groups — from all walks of life — who share the vision of the ACS of creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays,” said Kathy Idol, who is returning for her second year as event chairwoman. “That's what we're all about.”
Relay For Life began in 1985 with one man who walked and ran around a track for 24 hours and raised $27,000 for the ACS.
From there, the concept practically exploded from coast to coast and eventually onto foreign soil.
This year, Relay For Life will take place in nearly 5,100 communities in the United States and 20 other countries and will raise funds to support the society's mission of saving lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back.
This year marks the 18th Relay For Life in Watauga County.
For more information, plan to attend Monday's kickoff or visit http://www.RelayForLife.org .