This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Across the world, people meet to celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer as part of one family united against this dread disease. Team representatives, one at a time, from each team are on the track throughout the event. Relays are overnight, filled with fun competitions, entertainment, colorful tents and creative displays, a strong fighting spirit, and hope.

In Livingston County the annual event will be held at Ralph Clements field in Dansville on May 29, 2009, with students at SUNY Geneseo doing a college Relay at a different time on their campus. The Livingston County Relay in Dansville, is an open event: anyone can form a team, whether a church group, a business, schools, individuals or families. The Relay has its own website at www.relayforlife.org/dansvilleny where you can get details on creating, fundraising, and maintaining your teams. Teams can also get more guidance by attending the Relay Kick Off event and monthly meetings intended to support their efforts.

Relay participants have fun, but also honor victims and support the survivors. Relay for Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten and that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day cancer will be eliminated. “The opening Survivor Lap, is one of the most moving of any event you can think of. Being able to watch those courageous individuals circle that track, all together, makes you realize how important Relay can be,” says Laurie Stevens local representative of the American Cancer Society.

Brenda Avery, Captain of the Striving Eagles team and Relay Chairperson, was eager to help. “I realize that I am extremely lucky to have never directly dealt with cancer, but my sister and my mother in law were not. So this is why I chose to Relay and do whatever I can do for people like them, who need people like us to help support them.” All cancer survivors are invited to attend the opening of the Relay.

Education and prevention play a big part at the Relay. As partners of the Genesee Valley Health Partnership the American Cancer Society works with Livingston County health providers, the Livingston Wellness Partnership, Tobacco Action Network, and more, to provide the latest information and assistance for Livingston County. GVHP Wellness Coordinator Jean Angililli states, “The ACS and the Relay help to bring into focus the things we can do, not just at the event, but in our daily lives, to help combat cancer. We were very proud to see the Livingston County Government and Noyes Hospital recognized for their smoke-free campus practices at last year�^TMs Relay event, supporting the idea of a healthier future now for our county residents.”

Avery has a passion for Relay. “When it comes to helping cancer victims, survivors or just getting teams going, I am your person. In the past 8 years, I have seen many of my family, friends and co-workers and neighbors be taken by this awful disease, but I've also watched a lot of them who have fought cancer and won. Their courage and determination to survive are impressive and admirable. I am so over whelmed by the support of our communities.”

Anyone interested in learning more is invited to stop in anytime during the Kick-Off on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Dansville Moose Club from 7:00-11:00pm and learn more about what you can do. Avery adds, “Life is about being there for each other and cheering each other on. We are all part of one big family.”