Relay For Life Kickoff March 7

For the second year, Newtown will be hosting a Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature event to fight cancer. The kickoff rally will take place on Monday, March 7, at 7 pm, in the Newtown Middle School Cafeteria.

The rally will launch Relay For Life, a unique team event designed to raise awareness about cancer and raise funds for the American Cancer Society. The actual event will take place at the Newtown High School and will begin at 7 pm on Saturday, June 11, and conclude at 7 am, June 12.

 The Relay For Life is an overnight celebration of life and cancer survivorship. Teams of people, including local businesses, friends, families, caregivers, and schools, will take turns walking laps to honor cancer survivors as well as friends and family members lost to the disease. Relay For Life is a great way for the community to work together in the fight against cancer, its organizers say.

Almost 1.4 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2005, according to the American Cancer Society, which estimates almost 600,000 will die from cancer this year. In the United States, cancer causes one of every four deaths.

To attend the kickoff rally, call Dawn Escoda at 270-7541, or Lynda Russo at 426-2995. Event support is provided by Carminuccio’s and the Pepsi Bottling Co.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering, and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.