On June 2 & 3, 2000, at J.M. Langston Focus School Football Field, 400 walkers representing 28 teams took the track for a 24-hour relay that raised $75,000 for the American Cancer Society.  Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraising and community awareness event.  It is an overnight community celebration of life . . . dedicated to present and former cancer patients, their families, and friends.  Danville Regional Health System was a platinum sponsor of this event donating $5,000 in funds, support and resources.

Of the 28 teams, Danville Regional Health System was represented by nine teams from departments within the health system.  Teams raised money throughout the year with raffles, bake sales, stews and many other creative fundraisers.  The total amount raised by DRHS associates was $23,894.25. 

The event began at 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 2, with over 100 cancer survivors walking the first lap.  Walking behind the survivors were their caregivers.  As the survivors walked around the track arm-in-arm, their names were read aloud, along with the number of years they survived cancer.  Later in the evening, a luminary ceremony celebrated cancer survivors and honored those who lost their lives to cancer. Over 1500 luminaries were lit during the luminary ceremony. 

The money raised from this event will not only go toward cancer research, but will return to the community in the form of patient education, patient services, and cancer detection and prevention programs.  Prevention programs provide the public and health professionals with information and education to prevent cancer occurrence or to reduce the risk of developing cancer.  Patient Service programs assist cancer patients and their families with resources to fight cancer.  Detection and prevention programs are directed at finding cancer before it is clinically apparent, and provides information and education about cancer treatments for cure, recurrence symptom management, and pain control.

The funds are broken down with 42 percent going for mission-based activities (this money returns to the community), 36.2 percent for research, 17.8 percent toward fundraising activities, and only 4 percent for management.

The American Cancer Society has announced that the date for next year’s Relay for Life will be June 1 & 2.  If you would like more information on the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life call the American Cancer Society at 540-638-8944.