Info about MRSA infection

05-01-08 #2
2nd Annual Relay For Life of Mount Vernon scheduled for June 13/14
     A cancer diagnosis is scary, life changing and…a reason to celebrate. Wait…what was that last one? The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Mount Vernon invites the Mt. Vernon community to honor and celebrate the lives of cancer survivors within their community. This overnight event is one of more than 5,000 across America held to recognize that cancer doesn’t sleep and neither will we until we find the cure. 
     Relay For Life is the largest grassroots fundraiser in the world and gives everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Since the first Relay For Life, held in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington, the event has raised over $1.8 billion. In 2007, Relay For Life will raise well over $300 million. The first annual Relay For Life of Mt. Vernon raised over $60,000 and had hundreds of participants camping out on Memorial Field, showing their commitment to the fight against cancer.
     Relay For Life opens as cancer survivors of all ages walk, run, or otherwise move around the track for the first lap. This emotional time sets the stage for the importance of each participant's contribution. A festive atmosphere always develops around the track area as teams of 10 to15 people make new friends and spend time with old ones while raising awareness and money to support cancer research, education, advocacy and local patient services. 
     A highlight of the evening is the luminaria service or candlelight vigil held at 10pm to honor cancer survivors and to remember those lost to cancer. The luminaria candles line the track and are left burning throughout the night as a reminder to participants the importance of their involvement in the Relay For Life event. This year the event will be held at Memorial Field and will run from 6pm on June 13 to 6am on June 14.
     Event participants are also encouraged to fight back by learning about their own risk of various cancers based on their age, family history and race. They will also have the opportunity to join the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network to help affect legislation regarding cancer such as tobacco tax laws in New York. 
     “Relay For Life truly embodies the spirit of the American Cancer Society,” said Sarah Hess, director of Relay For Life of Mt. Vernon. “It brings the community together to celebrate those who have survived cancer, remember those we have lost, and to fight back against a disease that has touched too many of us.”
     In addition to the Mt. Vernon event, the American Cancer Society will host Relay For Life in 139 communities in New York.
     To find out more about Relay For Life in your community, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. Interested team captains can build their team and raise funds online at www.events.cancer.org/rflmtvernonny