RELAY FOR LIFE: FUN NIGHT FOR GOOD CAUSE

CAPTAINS: Some of the assembled Relay for Life team captains looked over information at the first organizational meeting, June 12. Jackson USA Signal/Mark Evans

Amy Evans hopes to see not only a large crowd at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Jackson August 4-5, but a fun-filled one.

"Just have fun and be as creative as possible," she advised team captains during the Jackson Relay for Life's first planning meeting, June 12. Each team will have a "camp site" at the relay. Evans encouraged each team to have a theme.

"That will make the camp sites more fun," she said. "At the Perryville walk, one team was the 'Cure Hunters' and were dressed in camouflage. There are endless possibilities of things to do."

Team captains and committee members are still being sought for the event. At press time an event chairperson was also being sought.

Relay for Life is the ACS's version of an athletic relay, but with a new twist. Relay for Life is a family-oriented event where participants enjoy the camaraderie of a team and also raise funds to support the activities of the American Cancer Society. Participants camp out at the relay site. When they are not taking their turn walking or running, they take part in fun activities and local entertainment. Evans also encouraged teams to hold additional fundraising activities that night at the relay. "It makes it so much more of an event," she noted.

The relay will begin at 6 p.m., Aug. 4 and continue until 10 a.m., Aug. 5. It will be held at Jackson City Park, pavilions 4 and 5, although the exact walking path is still being discussed. Concern was expressed at the meeting that the half-mile paved path around the lake might be too long for the special victory lap for cancer survivors. The survivors' lap always opens the event.

One possibility brought up was to get permission to cut from the track, through the Noon Optimists' Safety City course.

One person from each team is ideally on the track at all times -- symbolizing refusal to stop fighting until cancer has been stopped.

Teams will collect donations between now and the night of the event. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society, a nationwide, community-based volunteer health organization, dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. The ACS raises some $100 million a year. Most of it goes directly to research.

"Our research is our ace in the hole," said Evans, who had formerly worked for the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. "Raising $100 million a year is nothing to laugh at. We're very proud of that."

She urged captains and others to "be armed with the knowledge" of what the event is and where the money will go. "Anybody who gives to something wants to know it's going to a good cause."

Meanwhile Evans and her team captains and committee chairs are getting the word out. T-shirts are being printed, as well as plastic cups and other items. Candles in paper bags called "luminaries" will be sold for $10, in honor of deceased cancer victims. Stars with the name of the contributor may also be purchased.

The luminaries light the night sky as the sun goes down, paying tribute to those who lost to cancer and those who are still fighting.

Bright colored brochures and other information were also passed out to captains.

"Getting that pink and purple all over town is what we want to do," Evans instructed the captains. Teams from companies, churches, organizations, hospitals, schools, etc., will collect donations and can win individual and team prizes for their efforts.

The event is supported by corporate sponsors, whose names will appear on the back of the T-shirts. Other area merchants will provide food, drinks and other items. More in-kind donations are still welcome.

Evans pointed out that, while the idea is for whole teams to spend the entire night at their "camps," this should not keep anyone from participating who cannot spend the night.

"Anyone can sign up to walk or run an hour or more and then leave if they need to," she said. "Many people have lives -- kids and dogs to take care of, etc."

The relay was originated in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Gordon Klatt, a surgeon and local American Cancer Society volunteer, ran and walked on a local track for 24 hours, by himself, and raised $27,000 to fight cancer. A year later the first Relay For Life was born in Tacoma and has grown ever since.

From 500,000 participants in 1994-95, the event has grown to 1.75 million participants. During 1998-99 walks, the Midwest region raised almost $1 per citizen -- $13,150,000 out of a 13,500,000 population base.

Information about how to form a team or become involved in Relay for Life is available from the American Cancer Society at 334-9197. For more information on cancer, call the American Cancer Society's 24-hour hot line at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit its web site at www.cancer.org.