In a nation where more than 1,437,180 people will be diagnosed with cancer this year, Lincoln County is invited to join with the American Cancer Society in our movement to end cancer. Relay For Life is an American Cancer Society event where no one fights cancer alone and we celebrate the lives of those who have survived the disease. At the Relay For Life, we also remember those we've lost to cancer and honor those who have survived and who are still battling the disease. Finally, the community joins together and makes a commitment to fight back against a disease that takes so much.

The 2009 Relay For Life of Lincoln County will be held on Friday, April 24, 2009 - Saturday, April 25, 2009, 7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m., at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising activity. It began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt of Tacoma, Washington, walked around a track for 24 hours and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life has grown into an international annual event that is held in 19 countries, on 6 continents, and in over 4,960 communities. Today Relay For Life is the largest nonprofit fundraising activity in the world with over 3.5 million participants. While each community's Relay For Life is unique, its greater power lies in the synergy created by all the Relays taking place worldwide. Since 2002, Relay For Life of Lincoln County has raised over $275,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Relay For Life begins with a survivor lap where all survivors are cheered on by well-wishing onlookers. All during the night, team members take turns walking the track. At dusk, the lights are dimmed and the only light shines from the hundreds of candles inside luminaria bags that line the track in honor or memory of individuals touched by cancer. This is what Relay For Life is all aboutcelebrating, remembering and fighting back against cancer.

Funds generated through Relay support your American Cancer Society both locally and nationally. By 2015, the Society aims to prevent close to five million additional deaths from cancer, avoid six million new cancer diagnoses, and measurably improve the quality of life for those who have cancer. Community support is bringing us closer to realizing these challenging goals.

At Relay For Life events, participants also become more knowledgeable about cancer prevention and early detection, and learn more about services that are available to cancer patients and their families as well as opportunities to become more involved in the fight against cancer.

For more information about your local Relay For Life and how you can join with us in our movement to end cancer, visit www.relayforlife.org or call Brenda Danner, event co-chair, at (706) 359-5536. You can also visit our event website at www.relayforlife.org/ lincolncounty.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. For information about cancer, call 1.800.ACS.2345 twenty four hours a day, seven days a week or log onto www.cancer.org.