Relay for Life group sets kick-off ceremony Jan. 23

The 2008 American Cancer Society GLMV (Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills) Relay For Life will hold its official kick-off ceremony and celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago North Shore, 510 E. Route 83, Mundelein.

The theme of this year's Relay For Life is "Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back." The Relay will take place at Mundelein High School from 6 p.m. on June 7 to 6 a.m. on June 8. The Relay For Life is an overnight event because "cancer never sleeps."

The Relay For Life is an opportunity for those whose lives have been touched by cancer to offer their support to one another as they remember and honor the loved ones who lost their lives to cancer, celebrate the survivors and fight the disease with the funds they raise that go toward research, advocacy, education and treatment.

State Rep. Kathy Ryg will be a special guest at the kick-off event on Jan. 23, which will include a pizza party, martial arts demonstrations and a vendor fair. Door prizes and raffles will also be part of the evening.

The 2007 Relay For Life GLMV raised $397,220, making it the third-highest grossing Relay in the state. Co-chairs Jenny Gapinski and Jean Studebaker have set their sights on breaking the $400,000 mark this year.

For more information, call Nikki Furrow at (847) 317-0025 or e-mail her at Nicole.Furrow@Cancer.org.

To donate to the Relay For Life GLMV or register a team to take part, visit www.relayforlifeGLMV.com.