Survivors and caregivers to be honored at Relay For Life June 9 in Roselle

Do you want to get involved in the mission of the American Cancer Society? Have you wondered what Relay For Life is all about?

Come to the Northwest DuPage and Northwest Cook County American Cancer Society Relay For Life on Friday, June 9.

It will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Lake Park High School West Campus, 500 W. Bryn Mawr, Roselle.

Relay is an evening of inspirational speakers, entertainment, music, games, food concessions, children's activities, and fun. Get together with friends, neighbors, co-workers, clubs or teams to walk around the track and hang out with a great community of people, all while making a difference in the fight against cancer.

Participants can sign up as an individual, start a team with a few friends, or join an existing team. All community members are invited to attend.

At the opening ceremony at 6 p.m., inspirational speakers will share stories on their cancer journey. Special guests will get you pumped for an evening of remembrance and celebration.

Survivors and caregivers are honored at Relay For Life. There is a special recognition as they walk the first lap around the track at the opening ceremony, with the crowd cheering them on.

It doesn't matter if you were diagnosed 10 days ago or 10 years ago, you can walk while everybody gathers to support and cheer for you. Then proceed to the Survivor Tent for dinner.

Once the evening is in full swing, teammates take turns walking the track to symbolize the ongoing fight against cancer. Music, games, food concessions, and fun continue all evening.

At the closing ceremony at 10 p.m., participants join hands together in a huge circle and celebrate what has been accomplished, and recognize that the fight will keep going until the world is free from cancer.

An invitation is extended to the Survivor reception dinner to anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer and one caregiver, generously provided by local restaurants.

To reserve your ticket for dinner, register online at www.RelayForLife.org/NWDupageIL. You will receive an email with a link to order your survivor T-shirt, shipped directly to you.

For a $10 donation, you can dedicate a luminaria to a loved one lost, someone currently battling cancer, or anyone who has overcome cancer.

Tell your friends that you are raising money for the American Cancer Society and offer to have a luminaria for their loved ones.

The luminarias are paper lantern bags, decorated with names and messages, in memory of, to honor, or to support every life touched by cancer.

You can purchase luminaria for $10 each, on the website or at Relay that evening.

The luminarias are placed around the track and are lit at dusk for the luminaria ceremony. The lights go off and the bagpiper leads participants around the track as each name is announced.

Each light represents a life - a life taken by cancer, the life of a cancer survivor, or the life of someone still fighting the disease. It is a demonstration that gives people the opportunity to grieve, but also offers comfort and hope, a light in the darkness. When the sun goes down, hope shines the brightest.

Relay For Life is a tribute to those lost to cancer, a celebration for those who have survived cancer, and hope for those who currently face cancer, that one day cancer will be eliminated. Be a part of an organization of survivors, patients, advocates, volunteers, caregivers, and researchers doing everything within our power to save lives.

Funds for cancer research are raised via donations to participant teams and the purchase of luminaries in honor of loved ones touched by cancer.

When you make a donation or buy a luminaria, you are helping the American Cancer Society save lives and make a difference in communities like ours. At Relay, no donation is too small, each and every dollar counts. Your donations help fund cancer research to find answers and better treatments, patient care services and support like free rides to chemo, lodging near hospitals, information, guidance to patients and families, education and early detection programs, advocacy, and the 24/7 helpline, (800) 227-2345.

Relay For Life of Northwest DuPage County and Northwest Cook County especially welcomes participants from Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elk Grove Village, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Itasca, Medinah, Roselle, Schaumburg, and Streamwood.

For event information and to sign up visit www.RelayForLife.org/NWDupageIL.

Questions? Contact American Cancer Society representative at Kiyoko.czech@cancer.org or (630) 586-6945.

For information and help for cancer patients, call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.