Cancer survivors, family, friends and good citizens of St. Croix are forming teams for the St. Croix Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s biggest annual fundraiser, which is held each May and raises tens of thousands of dollars to help cancer patients on the big island. And ACS wants you to volunteer your time and help them raise money.
"All the money stays here, to help people in the Virgin Islands with cancer," said Donna Jones, chairwoman of the American Cancer Society St. Croix Unit. "We will try to help anyone who comes in and says, ‘I have cancer,’" Jones said. Funding permitting, they help with cancer-related medications and travel, wheelchairs and other immediate needs, she said.
"We assist with a lot of stuff. That is why we try to raise so much at the relay every year, because all of it is used to help people and it is our number one fundraiser," she said.
As always, some political candidates are already involved. But with an election just a few months away, Jones said, "We are really asking the candidates to come out and come together to form a team to show the community they really want to help." Some are here every year whether there is an election or not, she said.
Each team should have 15 members and will pay a $150 fee, getting 15 T-shirts for the members along the way. Each team is expected to raise at least $1,500, she said. "They can do it any way they want, whether they take $100 from each team member, or pledges, or whatever. They can also hold fundraisers as a team.”
Relay for Life begins at 2 p.m. on May 17 at the St. Croix Educational Complex track, and teams of 15 people each will walk around the school’s track for 18 hours, until 10 a.m. the following morning.
Cancer survivors will walk the first lap, following tradition.
At 9 p.m. on the evening of the relay, they will hold a luminaria ceremony, lighting candles held in small white bags lining the track, each dedicated to someone who lost his or her battle with cancer or is still fighting.
"Normally we spell out ‘hope’ but this year it will be different and you will have to come out and see what it is," Jones said.
Luminaria can be purchased from the ACS the day of the event.
This year’s the national slogan is "Finish the Fight," and locally it is "All a We Are One," Jones said. They are supposed to decorate their tents in a cultural manner that shows the unity theme. All of we are one when it comes to cancer, she said.
For something new this year, in a "Fight Back" ceremony, one person from each team will say what they plan to do this coming year to help fight cancer.
"They have a year to do it, whether it is to donate something or donate time, educate the public by handing out pamphlets, however, they want to fight back, that is what the ceremony is about," Jones said.
Time is running out to get ready and the next team meeting is 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Croix Curriculum Center. "We are asking those teams that have not yet brought their registration fee to bring it in please Wednesday," Jones said.
To register a team for the event, contact Donna Jones with the American Cancer Society at 340-201-8264.
