(Lewisville/Flower Mound/Highland Village) — The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Southeast Denton County, set to begin at 7 p.m., May 16 through 7 a.m., May 17 at Lewisville High School, 1098 W. Main, is a celebration of cancer survivorship and a fun way to raise the vital funds needed to help find a cure for cancer. The event will celebrate the lives of hundreds of local residents who have survived cancer, while offering the hope of finding a cure. Some 200+ walkers are hoping to raise money to benefit the American Cancer Society.             

            “The event will begin with a survivors’ lap where hundreds of cancer survivors will take a victory lap around the track. The involvement of local cancer survivors is proof of the progress that has been made in improving cancer survival rates and the quality of life following cancer treatment,” said Denise Breidenich, Co-Chair, for the event. A candlelight ceremony also takes place to honor cancer survivors and remember those who lost the fight against this disease. The candle lighting will begin at 9 p.m., May 16, and luminaria bags for the ceremony can be purchased at the event for $5 each.           

            Relay For Life is an all-night community event bringing together teams of families, friends, churches, neighborhoods, and businesses – all with the same goal of curing cancer. Teams of walkers keep a continuous presence on the track throughout the night, walking in shifts to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.           

            A full agenda of entertainment is planned, including music from the band “Definitely Maybe”, team fundraising activities, fun theme laps and contests all night long such as karaoke, a Duct Tape Fashion Show, a Silent Auction Tent, and more. Relay For Life is a handicapped-accessible event.

            Funds raised during Relay For Life help support American Cancer Society research, education, advocacy, and patient services.

• Research — Investing more than $3.2 billion to cancer research since 1946, the Society has played a role in almost all the scientific milestones in cancer research including the bone marrow transplant, the Pap test crusade, and showing how drugs like Gleevec and Tamoxifen can be effective against certain cancers. 
• Education — By providing up-to-date cancer information, specialists answered millions of calls this year at 1-800-ACS-2345, and emails at www.cancer.org.
• Advocacy — The Society’s volunteer advocates work to ensure that responsible cancer policies are put in place at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Services — The Society offers cancer patients and their families a variety of programs to help make the cancer experience a little easier. For example, people can log onto Cancer Survivors Network^TM  from www.cancer.org to share experiences with other survivors and caregivers.

            Relay For Life brings together millions of people nationwide to raise money to help prevent cancer, save lives, and diminish suffering from the disease. Also this event is the American Cancer Society’s largest signature and the most successful national fundraiser, is evolving into a worldwide movement to end cancer. So far, Relay For Life events have raised $351 million at more than 4,200 sites throughout the United States and takes place in 18 other countries.

            For more information about the American Cancer Society, call 1-800-ACS-2345, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit www.cancer.org.

            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.