Cass County Relay for Life March 25

Special to the Sun

The Cass County Relay for Life will be held Saturday, March 25 from 3:30-9:30 p.m. at the Queen City High School Stadium. The public is invited to come out to participate in activities. This year’s theme is “The Fifties – Rock n’ Roll for a Cure”. There will be lots of games and food available, in addition to the usual Relay activities. There will be a silent auction from 6-8 p.m.
“Relay for Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society,” according to Relayforlife.org. “Relay is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in more than 5,200 communities and 27 countries. Volunteers give of their time and effort because they believe it’s time to take action against cancer.”
Relay events bring communities together to remember loved ones, honor survivors and raise funds to help the American Cancer Society combat cancer.
The relay is a team-based fundraiser -- team members take turns walking around the track. Each team is asked to have a member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps. 
Teams set up themed campsites at the event and continue their fundraising efforts by collecting donations. This counts toward their overall fundraising goal.
According to Relayforlife.org, “In May 1985, Dr. Gordon ‘Gordy’ Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising money to help the American Cancer Society with the nation’s biggest health concern: cancer.
“Gordy spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound. Friends, family, and patients watched and supported him as he walked and ran more than 83.6 miles and raised $27,000 through pledges to help save lives from cancer. As he circled the track, he thought of how he could get others to take part. 
“The next year, 19 teams were part of the first relay at the historical Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000. 
Gordy passed away Aug. 3, 2014, at the age of 71 from heart failure after battling stomach cancer. But his legacy lives on. He helped shape an idea that started as one man walking and running a track and helped turn it into a global event raising over $5 billion to help save lives throughout the world.”
At this year’s local relay there will be a special Survivor’s Tea at 2 p.m. at the High School Cafeteria.  Survivors along with their caregivers will be served a special meal to celebrate their special status. 
There will be door prizes awarded. 
The tea will end in time for the survivors and caregivers to get to the field for the opening lap, which is the Survivor’s Lap.  
Anyone with questions about Relay can call Sharon Flournoy at 903-399-4738.