BERLIN – This year’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life Walk is set to kick-off at Frontier Town Campground on Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m., according to Dawn Hodge, the North Worcester County Relay For Life Director.
Frontier Town Campground is located south of Ocean City on Route 611 at 8428 Stephen Decatur Highway in Berlin. Participants will include teams from corporations, social organizations, civic groups, churches and schools as well as local family members and individuals. All community members are invited to participate.
"Relay For Life would like to invite everyone in the community to come and share in the fun and festivities at this year’s event at Frontier Town," Hodge said.
The Relay For Life Walk is an annual fundraiser established by the American Cancer Society to help raise funds for research, raise awareness in local communities about the demoralizing effects of cancer and to promote local agencies that comfort individuals and families affected by cancer.
"In addition, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life celebrates those lives that have defeated this horrific disease while remembering those lost to cancer," Hodge said.
This year’s theme is Rock Around The Clock Relay. The event is an overnight community event sponsored by the Atlantic General Hospital. Teams are encouraged to camp out at the event site and have a team theme decorating their campsites.
"Everyone from our community is invited to form a team, be a sponsor, or just join us at Frontier Town Campground for the festivities," Hodge said. "We are proud to be partners in this annual endeavor with our generous sponsor, The Atlantic General Hospital."
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Walk expects to host more than 200 survivors for its opening ceremonies. The opening ceremonies will begin at 7 p.m. on May 9 and will be highlighted by the event’s Survivors Walk.
"We would be honored to have anyone who is a cancer survivor participate in our Survivors Walk," Hodge said. "The Survivors Walk helps kick off our event, and all cancer survivors are invited to come out and walk the first lap."
The Rock Around The Clock Relay is an event designed for the enjoyment and education of the entire family.
"There will be lots of fun family activities that will contribute to a party atmosphere. These include entertainment, kid’s activities, late night activities, and on-site fundraisers that always feature lots of good food and exciting raffles," Hodge said. "We will also have cancer information booths from both ACSCAN that is the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and from the Man to Man group that is a Prostate Cancer Awareness Group."
One of the most emotional ceremonies at Relay For Life is the lighting of the luminary bags and tiki-torches.
"This is a Remembrance Ceremony that reflects on loved ones who defeated cancer as well as a remembrance to those who lost their war," Hodge said. "Everyone is encouraged to take this time to remember their loved ones."
Luminary bags and tiki-torches can be purchased online at www.events.cancer.org/rflnorthworcester or from any Relay team member up until 7 p.m. on May 9.
For the first time in 25 years, the American Cancer Society has added a new ceremony to the Relay For Life event. The new ceremony is entitled the "Fight Back" ceremony, Hodge noted.
"The Survivor Celebration Ceremony gives us a place to rejoice in the victory against cancer together as a community," Hodge said. "The Remembrance Ceremony was created to give the community an opportunity to reflect on their experiences with cancer on the Relay For Life battlefield. …”
For more information, log onto www.events.cancer.org/rflnorthworcester or call Lisa Shiells at 410-208-2711 or Dawn Hodge at 443-497-1198.
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