Community Corner

Relay for Life Brings Cumming Together

Thousands will take over the Cumming Fairgrounds Friday for this year's Relay for Life.

No matter who you are, there's a place for you at Relay for Life, the signature fundraising activity of the American Cancer Society.

On Friday thousands of participants from all walks of life, including local businesses, churches, schools, community volunteers and more will join together at the Cumming Fairgrounds to fight cancer.

"We start at six o'clock at night and we end at six o'clock in the morning," said Suzanne Hendricks, community manager for Dawson and Forsyth, American Cancer Society.

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The purpose of the 12-hour overnight event is to symbolize the journey of someone that is going through the disease.

"So we give up the one night to show our support of those who are battling cancer 24 hours a day," Hendricks said.

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So far there are more than 1,100 participants, 79 teams set to walk on Friday night and more than $220,000 raised. The goal, Hendricks said, is to reach $265,000.

Each dollar raised for Relay for Life in Cumming and across the country goes towards funding for life saving research, patient support programs and services, advocacy efforts, along with education and prevention.

Hendricks explained how Relay for Life works.

"Each team has somebody walking the track throughout the night," she said. "You have one team member representing you [the team] on the track. For the community coming out, it's really like a giant festival."

Each team has their own area similar to a campsite that includes food, games and activities.

"They're trying to reach their fundraising goal," said Hendricks. "They've been working hard throughout the year, some of them have already met their goals, some of them are still trying to strive to reach their goal."

More details on team onsite activities can be found on the Relay for Life Web site.

"It's a big celebration for all their hard work, thus far, it's a big celebration for all of our cancer survivors," she said. "And it's an opportunity for us to put the icing on the cake and hopefully for them to reach their team goals."

Also this year, the American Cancer Society will continue its enrollment for a Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS3) taking place during the event on Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

"What we're trying to do is enroll a total of 300,000 people across the nation for this research study," said Hendricks.

The purpose of the study is to look at lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that might cause or prevent cancer.

"I think it's an incredible opportunity for this community to really be a part of finding the cure," she said. "Relay for Life helps to fund it, but this is actually something they can come and do at the event."

It's a way to help the organization figure out why some people get cancer and others do not.

If you're going to Relay for Life below is the entertainment schedule taking place on the stage at the fairgrounds.

Start

End

Activity

5:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

David Leon-Country Performer

6:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Music

7:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Opening Ceremony 

7:30 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

Survivor/Caregiver Lap 

8:00 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

Team Lap

8:30 p.m.

9:00 p.m.

PURPLE GLOVE DANCE

9:00 p.m.

9:45  p.m.

Coby Rosson Band

10:00 p.m.

11:00 p.m.

Luminaria Ceremony

11:00 p.m.

11:15 p.m.

Team Captain Appreciation

11:15 p.m.

11:30 p.m.

Road to Recovery Lap

11:30 p.m.

12:30 a.m.

Relayers Got Talent

12:30 a.m.

1:30 a.m.

Red Carpet Looks

1:45 a.m.

2:45 a.m.

True Vine- Contemporary Christian Band

3:00 a.m.

4:00 a.m.

Whose Line is it Anyway?

4:15 a.m.

5:15 a.m.

Jake Douglas Music

5:30 a.m.

6:00 a.m.

Closing Ceremony

For more information, or for sponsorship opportunities, click here.


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