2013 CC Relay for Life: ‘Dream Big, Hope Big, and Relay Big’

By LYNNETTE FORTH | For The Prairie Advocate News

MOUNT CARROLL – The 2013 Carroll County Relay for Life is officially underway. A kick off meeting was held on March 11th at the Land of Oz. Speaker for the evening was a two year cancer survivor who told the audience, “Don’t ever hesitate to ask a survivor to participate in relay.”

The theme for this year is “Dream Big, Hope Big, and Relay Big.” Last year Carroll County raised a total of $65,770.00, with a state wide total of $15.6 million.

This year, the relay will once again be held at the West Carroll Middle School in Mount Carroll on June 22nd and 23rd. Campsite set up will begin at 3:00, with the opening ceremony to begin at 6:00.

For those not familiar with Relay, anyone interested in helping to raise money to support the fight against cancer is invited to form a team with each member asked to raise about $100.00. Every dollar makes a difference, and the more funds raised, the more lives are helped saved. Teams are asked to have one member walking on the track at all times during the event.

There are many fun events to help keep the night exciting. This year, those events include: a silent auction, Summer Time Carnival (games and prizes), Come and Get It (merchandise and food stands), Ringing in the New Year (musical chairs and scavenger hunt), Be My Valentine lap, Go Green (relay races), Luminary Ceremony (9:30 pm), Easter Bonnet lap, So You Think You Can Dance (group dancing), Pizza Party at midnight, Beach Party (water balloon volleyball), Stars and Stripes Forever and Batter Up laps, Picnic in the Park (name that tune game), Let’s Go Camping (smores and ghost stories), Spookfest (costumes, mummy relay race), Are You Ready for Some Football lap, Festival of Trees lap, and Ugly Sweater lap.

This year, an entrance fee of $10.00 per team member has been changed from $100.00 per team as in previous years. Also new this year is The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc. ACS CAN, which is a not-for-profit corporation from Washington D.C whose mission includes eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through voter education and issue campaigns aimed at holding candidates and lawmakers accountable for their positions on cancer. The American Cancer Society and ACS CAN are independent organizations that share the same goal.

ACS CAN is fighting to make cancer a top national priority working with lawmakers from all political parties at all levels of government, and provides education to the public, lawmakers, candidates, and the media about cancer issues.

Currently in Illinois, The American Cancer Society currently oversees $27.2 million in research grants to Illinois Investigators, and provided 1,000 nights of free or low cost lodging to those traveling for cancer treatment in 2012, provided free resources for 35,000 newly diagnosed patients and caregivers, including more than 75,000 free rides for treatment. ACS CAN is also funding $360,000.00 in community grants to combat childhood obesity. More information can be found at www.acscan.org.

Anyone interested in forming a team for the Relay is asked to contact Cassie at 815-229-1287, or visit www.RelayForLife.org/CarrollIL. The next scheduled team rally meetings are scheduled for April 8th and May 13th at 7 p.m. at the Land of Oz in Mount Carroll.