American Cancer Society to hold kickoff for 2012 Relay For Life

Published 5:09 am Wednesday, November 16, 2011

On Thursday at 6 p.m. the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Whitfield County will officially get under way as event volunteers and participants gather at First Baptist Church, in the fellowship hall, for a kickoff rally to launch the 2012 Relay season.

Each year kickoff is a time to celebrate the previous year’s accomplishments and to get the community excited about taking part in a worldwide movement to end cancer. Anyone in the community interested in learning how they can join in the fight is invited.   

In 2011, 40 Relay teams from across the community raised $164,508 to further the American Cancer Society’s vision to create a world with more birthdays. More than 900 participants from local businesses, churches, organizations and friends and families walked throughout the night in honor of those who battle cancer and in memory of those who have lost their battle.  

Relay Co-Chairs Seth Fetzer and Candy Steele hope to have a great turnout at kickoff.

“The more people in the community we have involved in Relay, the greater an impact we can make towards finding a cure for this terrible disease. I lost my father to cancer and I would like to see the day when no one has to see a loved one fight that battle,” said Fetzer. Steele says “anyone who has been touched by this disease can make a difference by participating in Relay For Life.”  

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 American Cancer Society. 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 by fighting back.

For more information about kickoff or how you can get involved, please call the local American Cancer Society office at (706) 278-1960 or visit www.relayforlife.org/whitfield.