American Cancer Society’s ‘Relay for Life’

FREEHOLD – Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow on Thursday honored the American Cancer Society with a proclamation from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in support of the grassroots community program “Relay for Life.”

For the past 23 years on May 1, the American Cancer Society has held community celebrations called the “Relay for Life,” where individuals and teams camp out, barbecue, dance and take turns walking or running around a track “relay-style” to raise funds and heighten awareness to fight cancer.

Relay for Life is a unique, volunteer-driven community event that encourages participants from all walks of life – including cancer survivors, families, friends, corporations, civic organizations, schools, religious groups and concerned community members – to join together in the fight against cancer and show their support by wearing the color purple.

The American Cancer Society is a 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.

Since 1985, the Relay for Life has been celebrated by more than three million people in 4,700 communities in the United States and 19 countries worldwide.