Relay for Life walk takes cancer in stride

This year, the Seminole Relay for Life, which is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, has a goal of $88,500.

By JULIANNE WU, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 20, 2003

SEMINOLE -- Co-chairs Joanne Bossa and Eileen Corning are hoping to attract people to walk or just watch the Seminole Relay for Life, scheduled for this weekend as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

"Even if they aren't participating, we'd love to have people come out and support our teams," said Bossa, a cancer survivor.

Beginning Friday afternoon, the 36 teams will set up a "tent city" at Osceola High and decorate their campsites, play games and walk around the track. Then, at 6 p.m., there is a survivors' "victory lap," where cancer survivors walk around the track together.

At dusk, luminarias will be lit to honor cancer survivors and to remember those who have died. Participants and audience members are invited to purchase a luminaria.

Teams then take turns walking around the track until about noon the next day, Saturday.

This year, the Seminole Relay for Life has a goal of $88,500. Last year, the group's goal was $50,000, but they raised more than $72,000. The overall goal for the Pinellas Unit of the Cancer Society is more than $500,000, said Beth Weest, a spokeswoman for the Society. More than 215 teams, including more than 700 cancer survivors in the victory lap, are expected to participate in the eight relay events around Pinellas.

In 2002, Relay for Life events were held at over 3,300 sites throughout the United States, raising $220-million.

According to Weest, the money raised is used for research, education, advocacy and service to "everyone touched by cancer to help them make it through the journey."

For information on the various Relay sites, e-mail Weest at beth.weest@cancer.org or call her at 812-7025.

Relay for Life

Pinellas County Relay for Life events, fundraisers for the American Cancer Society, in the next few weeks are as follows:

Friday and Saturday -- Seminole, at Osceola High School, 9751 98th St. N; St. Petersburg, Northeast High School, 5500 16th St. N.

May 2-3 -- Oldsmar, Canal Park, 3100 Tampa Road.

May 9-10 -- Largo, Largo High School, 410 Missouri Ave.

May 16-17 -- Pinellas Park, Town Square Park, 5121 80th Terrace; Clearwater, The Long Center, 1501 N Belcher Ave.; Dunedin, Dunedin High School, 1651 Pinehurst Road; Tarpon Springs, Tarpon Springs Sports Complex, 400 S. Walton St.

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