• Relay for Life

Thanks to all the good publicity we have had when I mention Relay for Life no one asks me “What is Relay for Life?” The community is well aware of what it’s all about —raising money to find a cure for cancer.

We have a fine group of leaders for our Relay for Life with Amy Stevenson as chairperson of the Relay. Elaine Sempert is head of the Survivor event and has a good committee helping her.

This year, the Relay for Life will be held May 2-3 beginning Friday evening with opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. The survivors have a special tent and can start arriving at 5:30 p.m. to register. Survivors and their caregivers are urged to sign up ahead of time with either Elaine Sempert 241-1424 or Nina King 244-0179. Registration forms are also available at The Valdosta Daily Times office at 201 N. Troup St.

Again this year we will have the luminary service with luminaries in honor or in memory. When these luminaries are lit all around the track it is an awesome, breathtaking sight.

The Relay begins with survivors and caregivers walking the first lap. We would like to have 100 teams participating. Anyone wishing to have a team should contact Emily LaMontagne at 244-5400. There will be music, fun, food and fellowship.

There are many resources available to cancer patients both locally and a few hours away. The Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Atlanta is once such place. It provides free lodging for cancer patients traveling out of town for their treatment. Hope Lodge is a place where many find courage, strength, and comfort during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.

The Pearlman Cancer Center here in Valdosta has state-of-the-art equipment with wonderful doctors and nurses. The center offers up-to-date care and treatment.

The Cancer Society sponsors programs such as: Reach For Recovery. Volunteers in the program offer emotional support, provide information about breast cancer and serve as a positive role model for patients currently undergoing treatment.

I Can Cope is a group-education program for adult cancer patients, their family members and friends. The course is conducted as a series of classes to broaden understanding about living with cancer.

Look Good Feel Better helps female cancer patients deal with the appearance-related side effects of their treatment. Licensed cosmetologists and hair stylists offer advice and tips for coping with hair loss and skin changes. It proves that when you look good, you do feel better. Man to Man is a prostate cancer and support program that offers group support or one-on-one support to men with prostate cancer. The Road to Recovery program offers free transportation for cancer patients to and from their life-saving radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

People on the various teams are asking for your donations and we need your donations to help find a cure for cancer so that our children and grandchildren will not have to experience cancer.

Please mark this important date on your calendar and come out to support this worthwhile event.