Cancer survivors, family, friends and good citizens of St. Croix have formed teams and will be coming out to walk all night in support of cancer patients this Sunday, May 16 for the St. Croix Relay for Life. The big all-night walkathon is the American Cancer Society’s biggest annual fundraiser and raises tens of thousands of dollars to help cancer patients on the big island.
Started as a local event in Tacoma, Wash., in 1985, Relay for Life has grown into the American Cancer Society’s largest and most recognizable fundraising event. More than 53,000 relay events take place every year across the United States, and similar fundraisers have sprung up in 20 other countries.
Teams collect donations in the form of pledges for the laps they complete.
Relay for Life begins at 4 p.m. May 16 at the St. Croix Educational Complex track, and teams of 15 people each will walk around the school’s track until the following morning.
Cancer survivors will walk the first lap, following tradition.
After dark 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.
Luminaria can be purchased from the ACS the day of the event.
So far, 37 teams and 49 participants have raised nearly $5,000 for the St. Croix relay, according to the American Cancer Society website. Come out Sunday and show your support.
