There are many “great causes” that we support. Virtually every non-profit has had donations and grants reduced because of the economic downturn. That includes Relay For Life, my “charity of choice.” The Relay takes place the last Saturday in April at the sports complex stadium. This year it will be on April 28.
I ask that you support, and continue to support, Relay for Life. The Relay is a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society and is used to help find a cure. I would guess that cancer has somehow touched everyone. For myself and my wife, Rachelle, cancer has claimed the lives of three of our four parents and cancer also has touched one of her sisters, my brother and several in-laws.
I became involved with Relay a few years ago when I was invited to hand out medals to cancer survivors at the start of the Relay. I was deeply touched by the survivors, which included two young children who were probably 10 or 11 years old, far too young to be battling such a serious illness.
My wife and I came back to the Relay that night to find the baseball stadium at the sports complex transformed. Luminaries lined the track around the ball field and the bags had messages: “I remember my dad”…”We miss you, mom”…and other touching comments. Luminaries were in the bleachers and on one side of home plate the lights spelled out HOPE and the other side spelled out CURE.
That’s when it became my charity of choice.
So every April, I allow the audience to shave my head. We have some narrow hair clippers and, for $5, you can come up and take a swipe. I also have been the target in the dunk tank. It’s amazing how good people are at throwing soft balls!
The initial organizing of the Relay started in January. Teams are formed and they do fund raisers such as night golf tournaments, dances, spaghetti dinners and other events. It’s not too late; you can form a team at any time.
The Relay takes place at the sports complex stadium. It starts about 6 p.m. and goes all night. There is at least one person walking the track all night long and many teams set up booths to sell cookies, coffee, hot dogs and trinkets to continue raising money. The families pitch tents in the outfield and the kids (eventually) go to sleep.
Join us. You don’t have to be a sponsor or be part of a team. Just come out April 28 during the evening and you will be astounded. It is a great community event for everyone.
If you do come out, say hello. I’ll be the bald guy giving out medals to the cancer survivors.
For more information, contact my assistant, Rachel Aja, at 773-7368 or visit Relay for Life in Peoria.
