{Courtesy Relay For Life Parkland, Coral Springs, Margate, and Coconut Creek}
By Sharon Aron Baron
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Parkland, Coral Springs, Margate, and Coconut Creek is gearing up for an exciting event to honor cancer survivors, caregivers, and local citizens.
The event takes place on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and participants will unite to save lives from cancer.
Relay For Life is the largest peer-to-peer fundraising event globally, and it has become a community of supporters who believe in making a positive change in the world by fighting cancer. This year, almost 1.9 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, and the funds raised from this event will help provide resources for treatment and support cancer patients.
Gayle Morell, Relay Event Lead, who is also a cancer patient, emphasized the importance of raising funds for the local communities. She shared her personal story of battling a rare type of cancer and how the American Cancer Society provided resources for her treatment.
“Without these resources, I may not have been able to get the treatment I needed and not worry about the costs,” Morell said.
The American Cancer Society’s mission is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
This year’s Relay For Life event will have a Hollywood theme, and over 40 teams and more than 500 participants will join together to raise funds and awareness in an effort to free the world from the pain and suffering of cancer.
Survivors, thrivers, and caregivers will be honored, and the opening ceremony will include a special Survivors Lap. After sunset, Luminaria bags will be lit to remember those lost, celebrate cancer survivors, and show those affected by cancer that they are not alone.
The event is supported by many local businesses and organizations, including Memorial Cancer Institute, Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, Gunther Motor Company, Coldwell Banker Realty, JM Lexus, Burie Group at Morgan Stanley, Senior Strategic Planning, Phil Smith Kia, MVP Environmental Solutions, Iguana Control, VYVE, North Broward Preparatory School, and School of Rock Broward County.
Funds raised by Relay participants help attack all cancers in countless ways by funding and conducting breakthrough research, providing education, advocating for the needs of cancer patients and their families, and providing essential services throughout their cancer journey.
People can join the Relay For Life of Parkland, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, and Margate by signing up for an existing team or starting a new team. If they are unable to participate in the event, they can still help save lives by making a donation.
The fight against cancer needs everyone’s participation to make a difference in the world. To learn more about Relay For Life and form a team or register as an individual or cancer survivor, visit Relayforlife.org/parklandfl.
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