This story first appeared in the Centre County Gazette.
Relay For Life is set to return on Saturday, June 8, at Bald Eagle Area Alumni Stadium, continuing its mission of raising funds for the fight against cancer. The event, part of a nationwide initiative to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, serves as a celebration of cancer survivors, a remembrance of those lost to the disease and an opportunity to unite the community in the ongoing battle against cancer.
Relay For Life began in May 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, spent 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound’s Baker Stadium in Washington to raise funds for his local American Cancer Society office. His friends donated $25 each to walk or run with him for 30 minutes, and $27,000 was raised. This initial effort sparked the creation of Relay For Life, which has since grown into a nationwide event, with teams raising funds throughout the year to support cancer research and patient services.
“Relay For Life is a community-based and volunteer-driven fundraiser,” shared Gail Miller, co-lead of Relay For Life Centre County and member of the relay team Gail’s Girls. “It is to raise cancer-fighting dollars to support the American Cancer Society, but it also honors survivors and their caregivers and remembers those who have lost the battle to the disease.”
Miller noted that the three main pillars of the event are to celebrate survivors, remember the lost and fight back. As a breast cancer survivor, Miller now helps with the development of the annual event, while also raising money with her relay team, comprised of herself and her three daughters.
“We have known friends and family battling cancer, but the disease unfortunately hit home in 2008 when our own Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer,” the Gail’s Girls fundraising page notes. “The thought of anyone so close to you having cancer is unimaginable. Mom’s cancer was aggressive, but with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, she is cancer-free today. We relay in support of our Mother and because we want to see a cure.”
As of the morning of Tuesday, June 4, Gail’s Girls had raised a total of $6,736, surpassing their $6,000 goal. This is a part of the $105,880 that had been raised for the local Relay For Life as of Tuesday, June 4, to help fund cancer research, patient care programs and make a difference in the community. This year, Relay For Life hopes to raise $120,000.
Gail’s Girls is one of 32 teams that have helped raise funds for the local Relay For Life. However, being a team member is not a requirement to attend the event and join in on the festivities.
This year, Relay For Life Centre County will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, and a series of events will be held throughout the day. The schedule includes:
11 a.m. — Opening ceremony with Milesburg American Legion Color Guard. National anthem to be performed by Brooke Fisher.
11:30 — Team intro lap
Noon — Silent auction begins
12:30 — Children’s “Minute to Win It” games at the children’s tent
1 p.m. — Children’s lap
1:30 — Movie trivia, sponsored by M&M’s and Friends
2 p.m. — Costume parade
3 p.m. — Poker run of five laps, sponsored by Gail’s Girls
4 p.m. — Children’s Color Run
4:30 — Glow stick lap, sponsored by the Pleasant Gap Lioness
5 p.m. — Silent auction ends
5:30 — Survivor dinner
6:30 p.m. — Survivor photo
6:45 p.m. — Survivor ceremony with speaker Karen McCaffrey
7:30 p.m. — Team site fundraiser winners announced and raffle drawing
8 p.m. — Chiz Rider
8:30 p.m. — Luminaria ceremony with speaker Pete Picciurro
9:15 p.m. — Luminaria reflection laps
10 p.m. — Closing ceremony celebration
11 p.m. — Final lap
“We love it when people come and learn more about the relay. We love it when people come and just celebrate with us as we’re walking laps, looking at the luminarias and looking at the names on the luminary bags,” Miller shared.
Luminarias are paper lanterns which participants at the event can decorate with the names of loved ones who have either lost the battle to cancer, are in the process of fighting it or who have survived. During the Luminaria ceremony, which happens after sunset, the lanterns are lit and a moment of silence is held for those lost. The ceremony is one of many events throughout the day that will honor those whose lives cancer has affected.
“I’m excited to see all the survivors at the relay, to have them come out to the survivor meal and to celebrate together at the survivor ceremony. That’s my main goal — the survivors. And then, of course, I’m all about the money too,” Miller joked. Those interested in contributing to the fundraising efforts for Relay For Life can do so at relayforlife.org/pacentrecounty.
However, Miller noted that, while raising money is important, showing up and supporting survivors and those who have been touched by cancer is just as impactful, because as Miller noted, “Cancer affects everybody. It touches every family, every person in some way.”
