Wilkes Relay For Life holds kickoff party with 2007 theme 'Cancer is NO Vacation'
By CATHY LANNAE

The 2007 Relay For Life-Washington Wilkes held a rousing kickoff party recently at the McGill- Woodruff Ag center. With a theme of "Cancer is NO Vacation," booths were decorated as various travel locations offering specialty foods, beverages, decorations and information from those regions.

Emma Walker, cancer survivor, shared with the group her moving story of diagnosis, renewal and survival.

Summer Garrison, the American Cancer Society Community Partner, and Amy Treadwell, Washington- Wilkes Relay Chair, presented plans for the 2007 event including the details of the many opportunities to serve.

"Relay For Life is a unique opportunity for your community to come together in the fight against cancer, as evidenced by the significant growth of the event since our first Wilkes County Relay in 2004," said Garrison. "Twenty teams and hundreds of volunteers and corporate sponsors resulted in a $35,000 contribution to the fight for a cure in 2006. And the recognition through the Luminaria service of those lost to cancer, those living with cancer and those survivors of cancer is truly the high spot of the Relay For Life event."

The 2007 event is scheduled for May 4-5 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the Washington-Wilkes Parks and Recreation Track. "Teams are forming, corporate sponsors are being contacted, cancer patients and survivors are being sought," Treadwell says. "Volunteers are being called. How can you fight cancer? Form a team and get involved in our community."

For more information, contact Amy Treadwell, event chair at 706/ 678-2015 days or 706/678-7565 evenings or Summer Garrison, RFLstaff partner at 706/731-9900.

The American Cancer Society is the largest source of nongovernmental cancer research funds in the United States. ACS devotes approximately $100 million each year to research for a cure. This adds up to more than 2.5 billion dedicated to date to cancer research and includes the research of 38 Nobel Prize researchers. Development of the cancer fighting drugs Herceptin, Taxol, and Taxotere have been funded by the American Cancer Society.

Now is the time to get involved. Remember, "Cancer is NO Vacation."

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