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American Cancer Society Relay For Life Will Hold Kickoff Rally Tonight at the Greenway Baptist Church

By Paul T. Choate

Photo by Maria Richardson
Photo by Maria Richardson

Feb. 20, 2013. The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Watauga County will officially get underway with a kickoff rally tonight at 6p.m. at the Greenway Baptist Church Family Life Center. The event will feature guest speakers as well as an awards ceremony for 2012 participants. 

The actual Relay, held at Watauga High School, is not until June 14, but with a cause as important as this it is critical to get started as early as possible. 

“A lot of fundraising that the teams do is before the event,” said Kathy Idol, Relay co-chairwoman. “The earlier we can get them registered at that sort of the thing, the better.”

The rally will feature Lisa Bottomly, ACS community manager and cancer survivor, as the main speaker. The rally will also feature speakers from the community who have benefitted from the funds raised at Relay and will honor cancer survivors.Team and individual awards for Relay 2012 will also be presented.

relay-for-lifeThere will also be an opportunity to register teams or individuals for the overnight event to be held on June 14. Everyone interested in joining the 2013 Relay or in learning more about Relay For Life is invited to attend.

“I think we’ll have a good turnout. We hope those people that helped raise money last year will be there,” Idol said. “The more people we can get involved and the more money we can raise, the more people will become aware of this event and the work done by the American Cancer Society.”

To join a team or to learn more about the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Watauga County, visit relayforlife.org/watauganc.

The Greenway Baptist Church is located at 880 Greenway Road, Boone.

About Relay for Life

The world’s largest grassroots fundraising movement, Relay For Life mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and provide participants with an opportunity to fight back against the disease. Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups … people from all walks of life – all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society’s vision of creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Relay ForLife began in 1985 with one man who walked and ran around a track for 24 hours and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year, Relay For Lifewill take place in nearly 5,100 communities in the United States and 20 other countries and will raise funds to support the Society’s mission of saving lives by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back.