Relay For Life

 

TEAMS FORMING FOR ‘RELAY FOR LIFE’, a fun-filled, overnight event to raise money for the fight against cancer.

     The American Cancer Society Pasco Unit is in the process of recruiting teams to participate in Relay For Life – a unique community event that allows individuals from all walks of life to join in the fight against cancer.  Last year, more than 2 million Americans participated in Relay For Life and more than 400,000 cancer survivors walked the opening laps.
      Attention Land O’ Lakes!  Honorary Chairperson, Pat Mulieri invites the community to participate in this wonderful event.  Rally those around you to form a
team and join in the fight against cancer!  The team commitment fee is $100.  Enlist eight to fifteen individuals from your family, clubs, schools, businesses, churches, service groups, public employee groups, health care professionals, and others to form teams. All the money raised goes to our mission of saving lives through research, advocacy, patient services and education.
    This year’s event will be held at Pine View Middle School on Friday, April 29, 2005.    Land O’ Lakes Relay For Life Committee Chairpersons are Ann Colling of the St. Petersburg Times and David Milliman, a retired businessman and current resident of Wilderness Lake Preserve. Cheryl Moore of Curves for Women is heading up the Survivorship Programs.  Lynn Myers of Pine View Elementary School is Team Development Chairperson.  Nancy Schebell of the Groves is working on Luminaria.  Rich Cole is working on Logistics.   Kelly Evans of Wilderness Lake Preserve is organizing Activities and Entertainment.   Teri Hillis of Sanders Elementary is handling Registration and Accounting.  Trena Pollock of Promotional Solutions is working with Ben Pumo of Benedetto's Ristorante on Sponsorship.  Brenda
Milliman is Secretary and Charlotte Lanius is Advocacy Chair.  Faith Jordan-Masella of LandoLakesFLA.com and Dezi Zevin of University Community Hospital have
volunteered to coordinate Marketing and Publicity.  

    “We are really excited to be working on our second Relay For Life.  We already have twelve returning teams and it looks like Land O’ Lakes and
Lutz will be very supportive again this year.” said Ann Colling, Chairperson of the Relay For Life at Land O’ Lakes.   Last year the event had twenty three teams and raised over $45,000 to assist the American Cancer Society in their mission. 
      Teams signed up so far include:  Sanders Memorial Elementary School, Denham Oaks Elementary School, Wilderness Lakes Preserve, Groves Golf & Country Club, Curves for Women, Land O’ Lakes High School Interact Club, Pine View Elementary School, Oakstead Residents and Kids Stuff Preschool.
      In each community, cancer survivors are invited to begin the Relay by walking the Survivors’ Victory Lap around the track.  Then members of the teams take to the track and one person from each team remains on the track throughout the entire 18 hours.  After dark, a Luminaria Ceremony is held in memory of those who have lost their battle with cancer and in honor of survivors.
      Relay For Life began as one man’s battle against cancer and a journey to raise funds to support the American Cancer Society.  In May 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt walked, jogged, and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington.  His run alone raised $27,000.  Seventeen years and eight countries later, Relay For Life raised $210 million in the 2000-2001 events.   Registration for this event continues through to the event.  For more information about Relay For Life or if you are interested in volunteering, please call Ann Colling at (813) 909-4603 or email Dave & Brenda Milliman at bdmilliman@verizon.net or visit www.cancer.org and click on Florida.

Editorial:  Last year was the first time I experienced an event like this.  It was an extremely moving, wonderful event.  People told their stories, walked around the track, and ate the food that was for sale.  It was important and fun.  Now, when I drive by Pine View Middle School (as I have for the 19 years I have lived in Land O' Lakes), I feel differently about the track.  I now have a really meaningful memory of lots of people sharing a common bond-however they did it-privately or with others.  If you can't form or be a part of a team, then just come out and walk some laps or buy some goodies that are for sale on the track during the event.  Support this cause, however you are able.  Faith Jordan-Masella