Richmond Hill Relay to raise hope, $

For those who want to make a difference in the fight against cancer, look no further than the 2nd Annual Relay For Life of Richmond Hill.
This event will allow the community to take up the difficult fight against the second most common cause of death in the United States, cancer. This year’s Relay For Life of Richmond Hill will take place at Smokey Oval Park starting June 21 at 5 p.m. and ending June 22 at 7 a.m.
Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) signature event, is a unique experience bringing together hundreds of participants whose lives have been touched by cancer. People from within the community gather to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to cancer, and to fight back against the disease.
Carolina Soto, event Vice Chairperson and ACS volunteer, is involved in bringing more awareness and education about cancer to the Richmond Hill community. Soto’s grandfather died of prostate cancer, but could have lived a longer life had the cancer been detected earlier. He ignored early symptoms and wasn’t eager to seek medical attention.
“We’ve had a lot of people in the community that don’t want to come out and let people know that they have cancer. They feel it is something negative that they shouldn’t speak about,” Soto said.
According to ACS estimates, in 2008, there will be 565,650 deaths attributed to cancer in all of its different forms. About 1,437,180 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed this year as well. Men are likely to have slightly less than a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer; for women, the lifetime risk is a little more than 1 in 3.
Relay participants raise money to support the ACS in its mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. The event is held overnight to symbolize the fact that cancer never sleeps. Relay For Life events represent hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and the disease will one day be eliminated.
Soto is excited about this year’s event and expects to raise even more money than last year. “Last year’s Relay For Life raised $20,000. Our goal this year is to raise $35,000,” Soto said.
Over 400 walkers, survivors, volunteers, and supporters participated in last year’s event, which was held in inclement weather. Soto figures that there will be an even better turnout this year now that the Relay has been moved to June from May to take advantage of the warmer weather.
During Relay For Life events, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. The non-competitive event joins teams of 8-15 people to raise awareness and funds to support cancer research, education, advocacy, and patient services in the community. On event night, they pledge to keep one member of each team on the track for the entire duration of the relay while the other team members camp out on the track.
A highlight of the event is the Ceremony of Hope. Special lighted bags called luminaria line the path and are left burning throughout the night to remind participants of the incredible importance of their contributions. The luminaria celebrate survivors who have battled cancer and lived to tell their story, those who have been lost to this disease, or family and friends who continue to be touched by that experience.
Volunteers and donor efforts support research, education, advocacy, and services that allow the ACS to offer help and hope to people across the country who are in need. By joining together at the Relay, these special individuals celebrate life, friendship, and an opportunity to work to defeat cancer for future generations.
During the event, the ACS will be looking for volunteers with no past cancer history and between the ages of 30-65 to take part in the Cancer Prevention Study 3, which will study how environment, lifestyle and genetics play a role in contributing to cancer.
If you are interested in volunteering, contributing, participating, or finding out more information about the Relay For Life of Richmond Hill, contact Romeo Hitlall at 917-749-7700 or Carolina Soto at 646-247-8035 or visit www.events.cancer.org/RFLrichmondhillNY.