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Relay for Life this weekend - News - Rome Observer
For the 13th year the New York State School for the Deaf will be hosting the Relay for Life this weekend. The relay is a chance for people to remember those who have battled cancer and those who have died from the disease. The relay also raises awareness to the fact that cancer must be fought against in order to quell the world of the awful disease.
Kathy Peters, event manager for the Rome Relay for Life, knows just how important this event is. Peters has been an active member of the American Cancer Society for the past 20 years. She has also been a part of the Relay for Life since 1994 and she has participated in the Rome Relay for Life for the past 10 years. For Peters and the volunteers that make the relay an extraordinary event, the relay is more than just a weekend.
“This is not just a weekend,” Peters said. “These teams have been working all year in order to get ready for the relay. They have been collecting money, getting their teams together and setting up.”
The relay began in 1985 when a colorectal surgeon by the name of Dr. Gordy Klatt walked for 24 hours around a track to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since Klatt’s full day relay, the Relay for Life has evolved into a 24 spectacle that has the power to bring communities together.
“The Rome event is very impressive,” Peters said. “I have been relays all over New York State and the Rome event stacks right up towards the top…It has amazing staying power and the School for the Deaf is a perfect for the event…People show up year after year in Rome.”
Many people have been affected, in some way, by cancer. This may be the reason that Rome’s Relay for Life is so well attended.
This year’s event will feature Relay for Life traditions that make the relay so special.
The Survivor’s Lap is the very first lap of the relay. This is the time that cancer survivors are invited to walk one lap with each other. The inspirational and emotional lap is designed to celebrate all of the victories that have been won over cancer.
The Luminaria Ceremony is held once darkness falls. This is the time that people honor those who have been touched by cancer and remember those who have been lost because of cancer. The ceremony features relay participants lighting a candle inside a sand-filled bag with the name of a cancer victim on it. According to Peters, the Rome Luminaria Ceremony often features 7,000 luminaries. Participants will then walk a lap of silence.
The Fight Back Ceremony is when relay participants will make a personal commitment to saving lives by taking up the fight against cancer.
The Rome Relay for Life’s opening ceremony begins on June 4 at noon. The event lasts 24 hours. Peters says that she expects around 62 teams to participate, which happens to be right around the average for the Rome event.
It will be a time of remembrance, honor and celebration at the New York State School for the Deaf this weekend. For more information contact Kathy Peters at kathy.peters@cancer.org.
For the 13th year the New York State School for the Deaf will be hosting the Relay for Life this weekend. The relay is a chance for people to remember those who have battled cancer and those who have died from the disease. The relay also raises awareness to the fact that cancer must be fought against in order to quell the world of the awful disease.
Kathy Peters, event manager for the Rome Relay for Life, knows just how important this event is. Peters has been an active member of the American Cancer Society for the past 20 years. She has also been a part of the Relay for Life since 1994 and she has participated in the Rome Relay for Life for the past 10 years. For Peters and the volunteers that make the relay an extraordinary event, the relay is more than just a weekend.
“This is not just a weekend,” Peters said. “These teams have been working all year in order to get ready for the relay. They have been collecting money, getting their teams together and setting up.”
The relay began in 1985 when a colorectal surgeon by the name of Dr. Gordy Klatt walked for 24 hours around a track to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since Klatt’s full day relay, the Relay for Life has evolved into a 24 spectacle that has the power to bring communities together.
“The Rome event is very impressive,” Peters said. “I have been relays all over New York State and the Rome event stacks right up towards the top…It has amazing staying power and the School for the Deaf is a perfect for the event…People show up year after year in Rome.”
Many people have been affected, in some way, by cancer. This may be the reason that Rome’s Relay for Life is so well attended.
This year’s event will feature Relay for Life traditions that make the relay so special.
The Survivor’s Lap is the very first lap of the relay. This is the time that cancer survivors are invited to walk one lap with each other. The inspirational and emotional lap is designed to celebrate all of the victories that have been won over cancer.
The Luminaria Ceremony is held once darkness falls. This is the time that people honor those who have been touched by cancer and remember those who have been lost because of cancer. The ceremony features relay participants lighting a candle inside a sand-filled bag with the name of a cancer victim on it. According to Peters, the Rome Luminaria Ceremony often features 7,000 luminaries. Participants will then walk a lap of silence.
The Fight Back Ceremony is when relay participants will make a personal commitment to saving lives by taking up the fight against cancer.
The Rome Relay for Life’s opening ceremony begins on June 4 at noon. The event lasts 24 hours. Peters says that she expects around 62 teams to participate, which happens to be right around the average for the Rome event.
It will be a time of remembrance, honor and celebration at the New York State School for the Deaf this weekend. For more information contact Kathy Peters at kathy.peters@cancer.org.