North Kitsap Relay For Life is July 8-9, 6 p.m. to 6 p.m., at North Kitsap High School. So far, 21 teams and 115 participants have raised $20,752 for American Cancer Society advocacy, programs and research. For information on how you can help, as a donor or participant, contact Brie Storset, American Cancer Societty staff partner, (253) 207-5154, or email brie.storset@cancer.org.
Relay For Life is held in thousands of communities across the United States. Thanks in part to funds raised by Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society has about $500 million in research grants in effect today.
The result of those research dollars? The American Cancer Society has invested about $4 billion in research for a cure. In 1946, 25 percent of cancer patients lived at least five years after diagnosis; today, that rate is 60 percent.
Relay For Life supports local services that help people recover and enjoy an improved quality of life.
Money you raise supports Look Good Feel Good, which helps women living with cancer learn special cosmetic techniques to manage the appearance-related side effects of cancer and its treatment.
Money you raise supports Road to Recovery, which provides rides to and from treatment for patients who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves.
Money you raise supports Reach to Recovery, a program that matches patients with volunteers — many of whom are cancer survivors — who can provide a measure of comfort, emotional grounding and assistance is making informed health decisions.
Money you raise supports the National Cancer Information Center helpline — 1-800-227-2345. The helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Money you raise supports the National Cancer Information Center, which provides support and valuable information for newly diagnosed cancer patients.
Money you raise pays for one-year college scholarships for young cancer survivors to help relieve the burden on families paying costly medical bills.
Money you raise provides lodging for patients undergoing treatment, to help ease their financial burden.
Join Relay For Life and make a big difference. Walk in honor of a survivor. Light a candle in memory of someone who has passed on. Know that you are making a difference. Know that you are not alone: Relay teams are comprised of former and current cancer patients, those who have lost a loved one to cancer, as well as families, businesses and civic organizations.
By participating, you will help educate people so they know how to live better to reduce their cancer risk. And you will help fund research that will someday make cancer go the way of polio.
(A North Kitsap Relay for Life rally is scheduled June 28, 6 p.m., at North Kitsap Eagles Aerie 3586, 4230 Lincoln Road, Poulsbo.)
