One Day. One Night. One Community. One Fight.
The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer; remember loved ones lost to the disease; and fight back against a disease that takes too much. By participating, people honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to the lives they’ve lost to the disease, and raise money to help fight cancer here in our community.
Turlock participates in the nation-wide Relay for Life celebration and this year will be holding the Turlock Relay for Life on April 16-17, 2011 at Dutcher Middle School beginning at 8:30am. The 24 hour event will end at 8:30am the next morning (Sunday).
The most emotional and inspirational part of the event is always the Luminaria Ceremony held at night fall. Many candle lit bags line the track as to pay tribute to those who have battled cancer, whether they have lived to tell their stories or have lost their lives to the disease.
As Relay for Life works to raise money to help fight cancer, teams are formed with a mission to raise money through various efforts. Some of the ways teams raise money includes getting team sponsors, team members earn money from pledges for each lap they walk around the track, holding fundraising events prior to the event, and selling items to people walking around the track at the event.
So far this year, the 81 Relay for Life in Turlock teams and 1,309 participants have raised about $160,000 (including $54,000 online).
Last year the Turlock Relay for Life effort raised about $198,000 with the conclusion of the 24 hour event.
For all the information on the Turlock Relay for Life, visit the website www.relayforlife.org/turlockca.