Beginning at 7:00 p.m. on April 29th, 2016, the Church at Covington will host our annual Relay For Life of Newton County. Many times we receive questions from those who have not been involved with Relay For Life but want to know more.

So, what is Relay For Life?

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event that allows communities to join together to raise funds to improve cancer survival, decrease cancer incidence, and improve quality of life for patients and families.

During a Relay For Life event teams of friends and family, businesses, local vendors, churches and schools create “campsites” along a track while the community visits to support the event. The teams keep a teammate walking throughout the event to symbolize a cancer patient’s journey through their treatment. Relay For Life events have a lively, festival-like atmosphere that includes food and entertainment such as games and music from local performers that the whole family can enjoy. We kickoff our events by celebrating our local survivors, cheering them on as they start the event by taking the first official lap of around the track. All survivors who register prior to or at the event will receive a free commemorative, purple t-shirt!

Throughout the year these amazing teams and participants have created fundraisers and contributed their time and efforts towards both team and personal fundraising goals.

How did Relay For Life start?

In 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt started a 24-hour run in Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Klatt felt the need to help the American Cancer Society raise funds and combined with his passion of running, he created the first ever Relay For Life event. During the first event he ran more than 83 miles while friends and family donated $25 to walk or run alongside Gordy for support. His efforts alone raised $27,000! After the commencement of the first event, Gordy began making plans for the following year which included teams and other participants. This has since turned into more than 5,000 events in the United States and numerous events in more than 20 countries.

Why do we fundraise?

While the American Cancer Society is making progress toward a world without cancer, with dedication and fundraising efforts of our local participants, teams, and sponsors we are able to increase those efforts. With your help, we aren’t just fighting one type of cancer we’re fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community.

Your donor dollars go back to our research, programs, and services such as Road to Recovery, Look Good Feel Better, Reach to Recovery as well as various forms of support found through 24-hour phone support at 1.800.227.2345.

We offer one on one support to those utilizing our 1.800 number by finding how to best help patients, their families and caregivers. We offer support of cancer treatment and side effects, prevention and early detection, ACS research programs, online support communities and Clinical Trial Matching Service.

One-on-one support is also offered through online chat via our website at www.cancer.org. Cancer is an issue that touches all of us in one way or another, and your involvement in Relay For Life helps support the American Cancer Society’s critical, lifesaving mission.

It’s not too late to join our event as a team or participant and we encourage you to visit our website at www.relayforlife.org/newtonga to learn more and to register.