INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Indian River communities are getting ready for Relay for Life, and are actively registering residents for Relay teams and engaging cancer survivors to come to the events to be celebrated.
Indian River County cancer survivors and their caregivers will take the celebratory first lap at the Relay For Life of Indian River, the Relay For Life of the Beaches and the Relay For Life of North Indian River.
Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer may participate in any event. As the survivors walk, other event participants will cheer them on in a demonstration of support and celebration. The five-year survival rate for all cancers has risen to 68 percent, and there are an estimated 14 million Americans alive today who have been diagnosed with the disease.
The Relay For Life program is a community event where teams and individuals set up campsites at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team has at least one participant on the track at all times. As the sun sets, every event holds a special ceremony to remember loved ones lost to cancer. The money raised supports groundbreaking cancer research, education and prevention programs, and critical services for people facing cancer. Help save more lives by joining the fight against cancer today.
This year will mark the first time that two of the Relays in Indian River County will be during the day on a Saturday. Relay For Life of North Indian River and the Beaches both elected to hold their event during the day to increase community participation.
Those who would like to take part in any of the Relay For Life events, visit relayforlife.org or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or contact Doy Demsick at the local American Cancer Society Office at (772) 562-2272 ext. 2406.
Relay details are as follows:
Relay For Life of North Indian River
www.relayforlife.org/northindianriverfl
April 25, 2015 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Riverview Park, 650 US Highway 1, Sebastian, FL
Theme: Family Game Night
Event Lead: Charlotte Carlson Waitner, charlotte@waitner.com
Staff Specialist: Doy Demsick, doy.demsick@cancer.org
Relay For Life of Indian River
www.relayforlife.org/indianriverfl
May 1 and 2, 2015 6 p.m. overnight to 6 a.m.
Vero Beach High School – 1707 16th Street -Vero Beach, FL
Theme: Carnival
Event Lead: Curtis Carpenter, ledapron@gmail.com
Staff Specialist: Doy Demsick, doy.demsick@cancer.org
Relay For Life of the Beaches
www.relayforlife.org/indianriverbeachesfl
May 9, 2015 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Riverside Park (Under the Oaks), Vero Beach, FL
Theme: Under the Sea
Event Lead: Alla Kramer, 4allak@gmail.com
Staff Specialist: Doy Demsick, doy.demsick@cancer.org
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of nearly three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. during the past two decades, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates.
Thanks in part to the Society’s progress, nearly 14.5 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. The Society is determined to finish the fight against cancer. As the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, the organization is finding cures and ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, visit cancer.org or call the Society anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345.