Join us at Relay for Life on May 11-12 at Shepard

Following a successful campaign for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Shepard High School will host Relay for Life on May 11-12.  It’s another chance for our community to join the fight against cancer.

The Relay For Life of Palos-Worth-Chicago Ridge is our local community event. 

“Relay For Life is a 12-hour team event filled with fun, food, friendship, inspiration, surrounded by people of all ages joined together in a high-spirited
atmosphere,” said Erica Gilligan from the American Cancer Society.

Starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, people will walk the track at Shepard.  They can walk as individuals or in teams.  You can register here: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=51001

This year, Relay for Life events will draw more than 4 million participants in 20 different countries.  It’s a chance to not only show support, but to contribute to research funding.   

“It is a time when people you know and people you don’t know team up to raise public awareness about cancer in the community and to raise funds to find the cure,” Gilligan said.

To participate in Relay For Life, people recruit friends, family, co-workers, and
neighbors to join a team.  In the weeks leading up to the event, each team member raises money by collecting pledges.

On Relay Day, team members take turns walking around the track all night making sure that someone is on the track at all times.

“We don’t sleep that night because cancer never sleeps,” Gilligan explained.

To cancer survivor Kate Richardson, who teaches at Shepard, experiencing events like Relay for Life proves emotional.

“Working this year with Erica, the community volunteers, and our wonderful staff and kids has been great fun.  This group's enthusiasm is just contagious!” Richardson said.  “Being a survivor, I especially appreciate their dedication to fighting cancer.  Their idealism is inspiring.  I have personally benefited from the scientific advances made possible through donations to the American Cancer Society.  I hope my contributions to Relay benefit others.”

Each Relay For Life starts with the Survivors’ Lap, a testimony to the fact that so many people today survive cancer.  Survivors from the community walk the first lap around the track to celebrate their victories while everyone else cheers them. 

Later, toward dusk, Relay events feature a Luminaria Ceremony to honor survivors and remember those who have lost their battle.  It’s the most emotional part of Relay.

“A Luminaria is a small bag filled with sand holding a small candle or glow stick.  The Luminaria casts a warm, golden glow.  Each bears the name of a person who has battled cancer and are placed side-by-side to form a path,” Gilligan said.

For students, Relay events provide opportunities to serve and lead.

“Relay is a powerful and life-changing event.  Students take a leadership role by planning the event.  They also raise awareness of the disease, fund research efforts, and support and celebrate loved ones who have battled cancer, “Gilligan said.  

Please join the fight with us on May 11 at Shepard. Have a question?  Please contact Erica at erica.gilligan@cancer.org.