Although the Relay for Life is months away, fundraising and team building have begun.
The local event, held annually at the University of Central Arkansas’ Estes Stadium, raises funds for the American Cancer Society. Patty Scherer, event chair, told everyone at a meeting Tuesday that she hoped they would form a team.
“If you haven’t experienced relay, you are missing a lot,” Scherer said. “I had never heard of relay until I was touched myself.”
Scherer has lost several family members, battled cancer herself and now has relatives fighting the disease.
“It is incentive to get out there,” Scherer said.
The relay will begin at 6 p.m. April 23 and last until noon April 24. The theme will be “Get Away at Relay” with different camps depicting different vacation destinations.
“We camp out and stay out all night. Cancer never sleeps,” Scherer said.
Missy Schrag, a cancer survivor, was recognized as being one of two “Heroes of Hope.” Schrag is a six-year cancer survivor who has three children. She said she participates in relay to honor her late husband Pete as well as to continue to fight for a cure. Schrag met her husband Pete while both under going treatment for cancer.
“It was another reason to continue to go on, to support the survivors and remember the ones that are lost,” Schrag said.
Participation in Relay for Life helps find a cure, according to Stephanie Ramsey, the team development chair.
She encouraged all teams to start fundraising soon.
“Continue fundraising that night and have a big celebration,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey encouraged teams to have 10 to 15 members and to have members willing to keep a team member on the track at all times.
She asked that each team have at least one fundraising event before the relay and raise $100 per team member.
“Just get in there and just do it,” Ramsey said.
