Initial Relay For Life event set for Feb. 21

ThisWeek CW 02/09/2012

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2012/02/08/initial-relay-for-life-event-set-for-feb–21.html

A kickoff event for the first combined Canal Winchester-Groveport American Cancer Society Relay For Life is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Shade on the Canal, 19 S. High St.

Event spokesperson Andy Hunyady, a Canal Winchester resident and cancer survivor, said that the event is an opportunity to learn more about Relay For Life, register teams and make donations. The restaurant will donate 10 percent of food purchases that day to the event, which benefits the American Cancer Society.

The Canal Winchester-Groveport Relay For Life will take place overnight June 8-9 at Canal Winchester High School. Teams of walkers will take turns completing as many laps as possible around the high school track to raise funds for cancer research and awareness about the disease, according to Hunyady.

“Back in September, when we registered the event, we didn’t realize we’d cover such a large area,” Hunyady said. “So next year, we’ll probably just call it the Southeastern Franklin County Relay For Life. We want to make sure no one feels excluded. There’s a big need here.”

Hunyady said between 500 and 600 individuals in southeastern Franklin County will be diagnosed with cancer in the next year.

“I’ve been involved with this since 2001. My wife and I are both cancer survivors, and I lost my mother to cancer,” he said.

It’s touched so many of us that participate, and it’s very personal to me. Our goal is about 40 teams for this year.”

Teamwork is important to Hunyady and to the way the American Cancer Society works, he said.

“This isn’t about just raising money for cancer research. This is also to fund support programs for cancer patients and their caregivers,” he said. “A lot of the money stays right here in our area to help with that.”

Hunyady said the kick-off event, as well as Relay For Life itself, are both meant to be community celebrations. Relay For Life will include a ceremony where participants light hundreds of luminairia around the track to honor those touched by cancer.

“For me personally, I tell people we can beat this cancer, but we have to work together, so this is a team effort,” Hanyady said. “This kick-off is a great chance to meet the people involved and get more information. We need everybody’s help to make a difference.”

More information about the Feb. 21 gathering, Relay for Life or to sign up or make a donation is available online at www.relayforlife.org/canalwinchester.