Staff Report
FishHawk area residents are welcome to join in for the FishHawk Relay for Life Kick-Off taking place on Tuesday, October 20 at 6 p.m. The event will be hosted at Sunset Bay Chapel, located at 6026 Churchside Dr. in Lithia. Dinner is sponsored by the Brandon Olive Garden and Cakes by Mylene.
The kick-off is a great way to learn more about Relay and connect with teams and committee members to help answer any questions. This year’s theme for the FishHawk event is Time is Precious; Let’s Make Cancer a Thing of the Past. Registered teams can choose their campsite theme at kickoff.
Teams raise funds, participate in community service projects, and have friendly competitions and challenges starting now through the main event at Newsome High school on April 9, 2016 to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Last year, the FishHawk Relay for Life event raised $163,415. The goal for the 2016 event has a fundraising goal of $173,500.
Rachael Andrews, current event chair for the FishHawk Relay, recently met with Congressman Dennis Ross as well as other members of the state’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. to discuss the need to support an increase in federal funding for cancer research. She asked them to co-sponsor legislation that supports patients’ quality of life and to support legislation that would close a loophole in Medicare that often results in surprise costs for seniors when a polyp is found during a routine colonoscopy.
Andrews was first affected by cancer while her grandfather battled Leukemia and inspired her involvement with the FishHawk Relay For Life event.
“One in two men and one in three women will hear the words ‘you have cancer’ in their lifetime. We need a full and unwavering commitment from Congress to take action to help prevent and treat cancer,” said Andrews.
A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available for local businesses. Contact Julie Barone at tampajulie11@yahoo.com or Jackie Waluzak at jackelynwaluzak @yahoo.com. If you and interested in information regarding how to start a team, contact j3k2n@yahoo.com. Team Captains and interested participants should contact raecanrelay@gmail.com or j3k2n@yahoo.com to RSVP by Tuesday, October 13.
