Relay for Life of Clearwater is a community driven fundraiser and will be taking place in Clearwater from May 13th – 14th. Almost 4 million people in over 5,000 communities throughout the United States participate in Relay for Life events. But what does participation actually do?
· According to the American Cancer Society, 569,490 Americans are expected to die from cancer this year alone, totaling more than 1,500 people a day, however more than two thirds of all cancer deaths are preventable.
· Relay for Life raises awareness of cancer and the importance of cancer screening – in an attempt to prevent preventable deaths from occurring.
· Relay for Life is also the largest fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with money going to fund cancer research.
· According to the Center for Disease Control, the number of cancer survivors in the United States is increasing. This is partly due to earlier detection and better treatment.
· However, there is still work to be done. With cancer accounting for one in four deaths in the United States, this fundraising is increasingly necessary.
As stated on the Relay for Life website, “At Relay, every person in the community has a chance to celebrate, remember, and fight back. And every person who participates joins others around the globe as part of this worldwide movement to end cancer.”
Teams participate in Relay for Life by joining the FIGHT against cancer by fundraising, raising awareness and by participating in the May event in Coachman Park.
Relay for Life of Clearwater is reaching out to all community members to sign up a team and participate, please contact Tammy Ashe attammy.ashe@cancer.org or (727)-812-7003. More information can be found on the Relay for Life of Clearwater websitewww.relayforlife.org/clearwaterfl.
About Relay For Life:
Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, and is driven by volunteers. Relay for Life began in 1985 when colorectal surgeon Dr. Gordon Klatt decided to raise money for the American Cancer Society in honor of his patients by walking around a track in a 24 hour period. Today, Relay For Life events are held in more than 5,000 communities spanning 21 countries and have raised an estimated over $3 billion. All proceeds go to funding cancer research with the aims of stomping out the disease.
In addition to fundraising, the event also raises awareness of the disease and furthers the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, helping them get well, and by finding cures and fighting back.
More information on Relay for Life is available at www.relayforlife.org.
About the American Cancer Society:
The American Cancer Society is a nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, and advocacy.
The American Cancer Society is the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion to date. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have cancer will be celebrating their next birthday.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org.
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