Relay for Life could change the world
By Staff
Jason Cannon, Franklin County Times
If you're looking to get involved in something that could change the face of both your community and the world, I suggest you make a contribution to Relay for Life.
Relay for Life was founded in the mid-1980s by Dr. Gordy Klatt, colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington.
In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for more than 83 miles.
Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer.
Now, more than 20 years later, communities, counties and parishes across the United States have their own Relays, which have become some of the largest contributors to cancer research.
There's an adage that says cancer is one of the only things that has touched every person in the world in one way or another.
I can speak to that first hand.
Both my mother and my grandfather have been diagnosed with cancer.
My mother sought aggressive treatment of breast cancer in 2002 and thanks to the advancement in the field, she is now cancer-free.
My grandfather, who is now in his mid-80s, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 90s and is still in good health and fighting it to this day.
Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of your American Cancer Society.
It's a lighthearted event aimed at tackling a very serious problem.
It's a time to celebrate those who have won their battles against cancer and time to remember those who lost their valiant fight.
The Franklin County Relay for Life will be held May 4 at the Golden Tigers' football field.
I urge each of you to find away to participate.
You may form a team, join an existing team or make a donation.
Your footsteps and your dollars will go a long way in helping to eliminate cancer, helping to insure that those lives that have not been touched by cancer in some way may remain that way.
Anyone interested in contributing to the county's Relay this year may call Beth Faulkner at 256-767-0825, or Lynn Sudduth at 256-332-2065. You may register online at www.acsevents.org/relay/al/franklin.
