A team effort to fight cancer

The Relay for Life means much more than raising funds.

By ERIN SULLIVAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 14, 2008

There are few people whose lives have not been touched by cancer. In the coming months, thousands of Pasco County residents will join together to raise money for cancer research, to remember those lost and to support survivors in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life events.

There are teams in San Antonio, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass, Connerton, Land O'Lakes, Hudson, Trinity and New Port Richey. A few teams are holding events to introduce people to Relay for Life, an overnight celebration where individuals and teams camp out, barbecue, dance, bond, light candles in remembrance and hope, and take turns walking in a relay to raise money to fight cancer.

The event began more than 20 years ago by a doctor in Washington who wanted to raise funds for his local American Cancer Society chapter. The event is now the largest not-for-profit fundraising event in the world.

SAN ANTONIO: This group is having a pep rally at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, 10641 Old Tampa Bay Drive, San Antonio. Contact Patty Richter at 352 567-9997 or richterfp@embarqmail.com or Terri Gude at (352) 585-2181 or tgude@SACFCU.org for more information. The Web site is events.cancer.org/rflsanantoniofl.

WESLEY CHAPEL: There are two groups in this area and both will be holding kickoff rallies for families, caregivers, cancer survivors, schools, businesses and anyone else who might be interested in volunteering for Relay. The first will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at Wesley Chapel Elementary School, 30243 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel. The second will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd, Wesley Chapel. For information, call Stephanie Watts at (813) 949-0291, ext. 107. The Web sites are events.cancer.org/rflwesleychapelfl or events.cancer.org/rflwiregrassfl.

Erin Sullivan can be reached at esullivan@sptimes.com or (813) 909-4609.

To find information about your local event, go to www.relayforlife.org/relay/findevent or call (813) 949-0291.

[Last modified January 13, 2008, 20:13:00]