[StBernard] American Cancer Society event set for Chalmette

[Westley Annis]

American Cancer Society event set for Chalmette

Published: Thursday, April 12, 2012, 3:34 PM     Updated: Thursday, April
12, 2012, 3:50 PM

 By Kim Gritter 

If you've ever watched someone dear to you struggle with cancer, and you
wished there were something you could do to help, look no further. The
American Cancer Society will provide you with a chance to make a difference
when it hosts its 2012 Relay for Life next month in Chalmette.

After an absence of more than six years, the St. Bernard event will once
again join more than 5,000 others across the country with the same goal in
mind: to help create a world with less cancer.

According to Molly Buckley, event chairwoman, the American Cancer Society
made a difference last year in southeast Louisiana by providing nearly
37,000 services to 4,000 families, including 357 free-room nights provided
so families can maintain their treatment schedules, and nearly 8,000 rides
allowing patients to continue treatment without interruption through the
Ride to Recovery program and Transportation Grants.

Set for May 19 from 4 to 10 p.m. at Torres Park, Buckley said the event, and
the dollars it raises, supports the American Cancer SocietyÕs efforts to
save lives by helping people get well and stay well by finding cures and
fighting back against cancer.

The event encourages communities to form teams with the goal of keeping at
least one team member on the track or pathway at all times throughout the
evening and raising funds to end the disease, she said.

Forming a team is easier than most people think, Buckley said, offering
these tips:

Teams can start with five close friends, and they can invite five friends,
and so on. Teams can consist of friends, neighbors, relatives and
co-workers.

Dedicate your team in honor of a friend or family member who is either a
survivor or one who has lost their battle, and build a theme around memories
of them (if deceased).

"Create a theme," Buckley said. "It can be activity-related, like 'tackling
cancer' (football), or 'reel in a big one' for cancer (fishing)."

In addition to forming teams, there are many other ways residents can get
involved in the effort, Buckley said.

"Fundraisers are easier than you think; it can be a craft, baked goods,
parade of prizes, or rent a spacewalk and charge visitors to jump," she
said. "There are also tons of ideas listed on http://www.cancer.org/index."

The event will feature music, entertainment, paddle-boat relays,
rock-climbing relays, and a VIP survivor walk.

Luminaries, a small bag filled with sand and tiny candles, will be sold for
$10 each, and will be lit at 9:30 p.m. Participants will be invited to walk
along the lighted path in honor of their survivor or loved one.

Volunteers and donations also are needed, Buckley said.

"We also need people to help with our VIP survivor tent, entertainment and
the sale of luminaries," she said.

Businesses or individuals wishing to honor a loved one can advertise around
the track with a sign for $100.

For more information, call Buckley at 504.940.8421, Carol Licciardi at
504.782.5691, or Rebecca Hart, American Cancer Society community chairwoman,
at 504.219.2295 or email Rebecca.Hart at cancer.org.