St. Clair Shores

Relay for Life to kick off 2012 season

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

Get ready to relay.

The 14th annual St. Clair Shores Relay for Life will host its kick-off event at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Senior Activity Center.

The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for registration, and City Councilman John Caron said anyone wishing to join or learn more about Relay for Life, a 24-hour fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, is welcome to come.

“We celebrate our cancer survivors, and we also have a remembrance ceremony,” he said. “We, ultimately, fight back against cancer.”

This year’s kick-off event will focus on Relay for Life events around the world, as the fundraiser is held not only in the U.S., but also in dozens of countries around the world.

“Everyone is welcome to come and check it out,” Caron said. “It’s the best way to begin to learn what is all involved with Relay because it’s not your typical fundraiser.”

“We like to call it the party before the party,” said Angela Harris, associate director of the American Cancer Society in southeastern Michigan. “It gives you a quick glimpse of what the 24 hours during (Relay for Life) will represent.”

Former Mayor Robert Hison and his wife, Nancy, will speak during the event about their experiences with cancer.

“We’d love for any survivors within the community to come out and be recognized,” Harris said. “We have a luminaria ceremony where we remember people who we have lost. That’s a very important part of our program. It gives people an opportunity to grieve with others who have gone through the experience.”

This year’s Relay for Life event will be held from noon June 8 until noon June 9 at Blossom Heath Park. Teams have to have one member walking at all times, but not everyone walks for the entire 24 hours. Participants can form their own team or join an existing team.

The funds raised from Relay for Life go to cancer research and local support for those with cancer, caregivers and survivors. The money raised stays in Michigan.

Caron became involved with the event seven years ago because of his parents, who are both nine-year cancer survivors.

“I actually started as a team member, and then, the following year, I became the team captain (for the) Shores Area Jaycees team,” he said. “The next three years after that, I actually chaired the event.

“I’m still on the committee and still a team captain because you never quite leave Relay.”

The Relay for Life kick-off event will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Senior Activity Center, 20000 Stephens. The event is free and open to anyone. Those attending are encouraged to RSVP by calling Angela Harris at (248) 663-3432 or sending an email to angela.harris@cancer.org before the event if they can.

To learn more about the St. Clair Shores Relay for Life June 8-9 at Blossom Heath Park, visit www.relayforlife.org/stclairshoresmi.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1041.