Advertisement

The kick-off party will feature a soup supper at 6 p.m. Feb. 4 at United Methodist Church, 210 N. Almont Ave., Imlay City. It will be followed by a program on fighting cancer at 7 p.m.

"The kick-off is to get everyone excited for this year's theme, 'Relay through the Years,'" said Stacey Hulber, American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Lapeer County media chair. "What happens is different chairs talk about what they'll be doing. They let people know how they can be involved with the relay."

Carol Boom, community representative for the American Cancer Society Great Lakes division-East said this year's Relay for Life event in Lapeer County will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 31-June 1 at the Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds.

"You can't meet anyone not touched by cancer," Boom said. "One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer. We make people aware. The two biggest causes of cancer are tobacco or lifestyle choices such as dietary or not getting exercise."

Last year's Lapeer County Relay for Life raised $97,500 and featured 33 teams, 800 participants, and 113 cancer survivors—an all-time high. It also featured 1,400 luminaria candles and 80 tiki torches during special ceremonies.

"We're hoping to recruit teams (at the kick-off party). We need help on our planning committee," Boom said. "We still need help. We're hoping for sponsorships. We're still hoping to make people aware through advocacy."

Boom said the advocacy chair for Lapeer County Relay for Life is Lapeer attorney George Stauch.

"He will lead they way that some people are still intimidated by the legislative process," she said. "They don't know when issues are coming before (lawmakers)."

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature event and the nation's largest grassroots movement. Since 1985, it has raised more than $2.6 million for cancer.

For more information call 1(800)-ACS-2345 or by visiting www.cancer.org.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com