Relay for Life: Island of Hope
The world’s largest not-for-profit fundraising event is coming to Fort Myers Beach. The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is set for this Saturday, March 20, at the Holiday Inn at 6890 Estero Blvd.
Relay For Life begins at noon with a registration/lunch for cancer survivors followed by the opening ceremonies/survivor celebration at 1 p.m. and a survivor lap and care-giving lap at 2 p.m. It will conclude some 18 hours later at 8 a.m. Sunday.
This year’s theme is “Island of Hope-Cast Away Cancer” and will again feature teams of people joining forces to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer successfully and unsuccessfully and to fight back against the disease.
The 2010 Relay will emphasize a more family friendly atmosphere with time slots filled with activities like health/fitness participations, a dance party, bingo, night movies and nonstop kids activities. The children games are sponsored by the K-kids, according to Chairman Eric Tibbs.
“This year our goal is to raise $100,000, and we are well on our way to that goal,” he said. “The past six years the event has been on the Beach, we raised $500,000 to wipe cancer out. At noon Saturday, we’re looking for any cancer survivors to come out and join us as we host a lunch at the Holiday Inn.”
Twenty teams have signed up for the all-night event which includes individuals from each squad taking turns circling the designated track in the beach sand. A team member should be on the track at all times because cancer never sleeps.
“It is a horrible disease, and I will do anything I can to fight it,” said Kim Southworth, co-captain of the Chapel by the Sea team which is the leading fundraiser on the Beach with more than $6,000 collected so far. Southworth, who has been involved in Relay for Life since 2005, is a cancer survivor as well as her husband, Dean. She lost her first husband to the (leading cause of death in America).
“We would really like people to come out to Fort Myers Beach and help us raise some money to fight this disease,” she said. “The money doesn’t go just to research. Most of the money goes to patient services. The biggest problem most people have is that they don’t have a way to their treatments. They are either too sick to drive themselves or are unable.”
The ACS Relay mission represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day cancer will be eliminated.
Saturday’s sunset will mark the annual luminaria ceremony which pays tribute to those who have faced the disease. Luminaria bags with candles can be purchased by a general donation at the luminaria tent. Afterwards, the track will be cleared of all walkers to prepare for the luminaria bag lighting and all participants and onlookers will be asked to join trackside and remain standing in silence for a brief program honoring victims and survivors alike.
When the moment of silence has ended, everyone will be asked to walk a lap with a lit candle to honor those who cannot walk.
“The lighted luminaria track is the inspiration for our sunset ceremony,” said Rose Loudermilk of Team Loudermilk and mother of cancer survivor Jesse Loudermilk. “It is the opportunity for people to come together to remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor those who have won their battle. This is one of the most moving parts of the event that so many people have contributed to, that you will not want to miss.”
If interested in joining a team or donating to ACS, go to www.relayforlife.org/fortmyersbeachfl. Register at the event or online and
receive your survivor t-shirt.