Local cancer survivors and their caregivers will take the celebratory first lap at the annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Oak Ridge event on May 20 at Oak Ridge High School Track. The survivors lap will begin at 6 p.m. Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer may participate.
As the survivors walk, other 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 14.5 million survivors in America, a press release said.
The Relay For Life of Oak Ridge 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. Last year, four million people participated in more than 6,000 events worldwide. The money raised supports groundbreaking cancer research, education and risk reduction efforts, and free information and critical services for people with cancer who need them.
If you are a cancer survivor or caregiver and would like to be part of the Relay For Life event, visit relayforlife.org or on Facebook at Relay for Life of Oak Ridge, or call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345.
