The Benton Relay for Life team officially started fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society by announcing when and where the all-night relay will be held. Six-year-old Jamie Gamble, middle, hugs her mom, Renee, while sister Holly, 9, listens to her mother talk about what she plans to say at a Benton Relay for Life kickoff party Tuesday at Touchdown Sally’s in Benton. The event was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Renee Gamble is a board member for the Benton Relay team. Relay For Life is set for April 30 at the Saline County Courthouse.
At a kickoff party on Tuesday, Deborah Kemp, Benton’s team chair, said the fundraiser will be at the Saline County Courthouse in Downtown Benton from 6 p.m. Friday, April 30, to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 1.
The announcement was made during the Benton team’s first public meeting at Touchdown Sally’s sports grill, 17332 Interstate 30 (in front of Tinsletown movie theater).
“I can’t express just how much it means that people came to our kickoff party,” Kemp said. “I believe it is so important to get the word out about the Relay for Life event in Benton. I believe it is also tremendously important to inform and educate the public about Relay and what we do and why we do it.”
Donations raised during the volunteer-driven, community-based event support American Cancer Society research, education, advocacy and patient service programs. Relay for Life teams are recruited from local businesses, clubs, hospitals, churches, schools and service organizations. Also, many families form their own teams.
Kemp said during the April 30-May 1 event, the entire city block around the courthouse will be blocked off for people to take turns walking around within a 24-hour period. Each team will try to keep at least one team member on the course at all times. Other activities to be held on the courthouse grounds will include music, grilling of food, games for children and adults, but most importantly supporters of the donation drive will offer cheeers of encouragement for those walking the course.
The event usually begins with cancer survivors taking the first walk to honor their heroic recovery and to encourage others with cancer to continue the tough fight. A luminary ceremony serves as a memorial tribute to those who lost their lives to cancer.
On Tuesday, the Benton team leaders spoke about the need for both new team members and financial support from the community.
“Right now our relay teams need sponsors,” seven-year team member Connie Curry said. “Whether it is individuals, small businesses, companies or whoever we can get to help us, we need to let them know that being a sponsor is a special thing. My hope is that everyone gets on board and makes this year’s event really special.”
“We also like to compete against our neighbors, the Bryant Relay for Life team,” Kemp said. “We want Bryant’s relay to be a big success, but we really need the Benton relay to be bigger and better than any relay in the state.”
Carrie Donnell, representing the Benton Relay Community Development segment, said the money raised from the relay helps the American Cancer Society not only pursue research for cancer cures, but also helps support advocacy programs. She also said it is raised not just for national support, but locally as well.
We focus heavily on education,” Donnell said. “We have ‘lunch and learns’ or have informational booths at community health fairs to help educate. We also work with those diagnosed for support. We even got really involved on getting the tobacco tax increase through the Arkansas Legislature.”
Kemp said a team can range just two people to 50 or more. She said this year’s theme is “Fight Like A Girl” and encouraged anyone interested to visit the Web site,www.relayforlife.org/bentonar for more information and to download signup sheets.
“How many have been touched by cancer?” Kemp asked. “How many want to touch back?”
Board member Jan Holmes added, “To most people, birthdays are just a reminder that they are getting older. But at the American Cancer Society, a happy birthday is a victory song. Because a world with less cancer is a world with more birthdays. More than 11 million Americans who have survived cancer and countless others who have avoided it will celebrate a birthday this year, thanks to the progress we are making together to help people stay well, get well, to find cures and fight back. We are here for the Relay for Life and to beat cancer. We want to celebrate the most birthdays as a survivor.”
For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org/bentonar or call Deborah Kemp at 779-0678.
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