Relay for Life celebrates survivors

by Janice Youngwith

The goal of this year's 16th annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life season is to raise more than $20 million for cancer research, community educational programs, advocacy initiatives and support services for patients and their families.

While participants in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life applaud the successes made over the last 16 years, they are also busy getting ready to welcome teams, cancer survivors, community supporters and the general public to one of more than 200 events to be held in Illinois this year.

As the American Cancer Society's signature fundraiser, Relay For Life helps fund programs such as Road to Recovery, a program that provides cancer patients with transportation to and from treatments; Look Good…Feel Better, which focuses on the inner and outer beauty of women going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments; Wig Bank, that offers free wigs, turbans and other hair accessories; Support for Recovery, which matches newly diagnosed patients with cancer survivors to help them cope with their diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Relay For Life also helps support the Society's Patient Navigation Services, which offers a place where cancer patients and their families can speak with a social worker to discuss questions and concerns about diagnosis, including subjects such as insurance support, clinical trials, financial assistance, family counseling and treatment.

For 16 years, Relay For Life of Illinois has been celebrating cancer survivorship while honoring those in the community who lost their battle with cancer. For more information on how to get involved in Relay For Life, or for up-to-date cancer information and to join the fight against cancer, call the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345. Information also is available online www.cancer.org.

Relay for Life's offical website is located here: www.relayforlife.org.

Chicago suburban Relay For Life events

North Suburban/Lake County
Glenview, May 30-31	Glenbrook South HS
Evanston, May 31-June 1	Evanston Township HS
Highland Park / Deerfield, May 31-June 1	Deerfield HS
Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles Youth, June 6-7	Niles North HS
Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, June 7-8	Mundelein HS
New Trier Township, June 13-14	New Trier HS, West
Buffalo Grove / Stevenson HS, June 14-15	Stevenson HS
Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles-Community, June 20-21	Niles North HS
Greater Waukegan, June 21-22	Bevier Park
Lake Forest / Lake Bluff, June 28-29	Lake Forest Hospital
Gurnee / Wadsworth, July 12-13	Warren Township HS
Antioch / Lakes Area, July 26-27	Township Park, Lake Villa
Grayslake / Round Lake Area, July 26-27	Grayslake Aquatic Center
Northwest Suburban
Elk Grove, June 6-7	Elk Grove HS
Wheeling, June 7-8	Wheeling HS
Palatine/Rolling Meadows/Inverness, June 13-14	Palatine HS
Buffalo Grove/Stevenson, June 14-15	Stevenson HS
Barrington, June 14-15	Good Shepherd Hospital
Schaumburg, June 20-21	Flyer's Stadium
Lake Zurich/Wauconda Island Lake June 21-22	Paulus Park
Arlington Heights, June 27-28	Hersey HS
Hoffman Estates, July 18-19	Hoffman Estates HS
DuPage County
West Chicago/Warrenville, May 30-31	West Chicago HS
Roselle/Bloomingdale/Itasca, June 6-7	Roselle Park District
Glen Ellyn/Wheaton/Winfield, June 6-7	Glenbard South HS
South Naperville, June 6-7	Neuqua Valley HS
Wood Grove, June 13-14	Downers Grove No. HS
Addison/Lombard/Villa Park, June 13-14	Montini HS
Carol Stream, June 13-14	Glenbard North HS
Bensenville/Wood Dale, June 13-14	Fenton HS
North Naperville/Lisle, June 20-21	Naperville North HS
Elmhurst, June 20-21	York HS
Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, June 20-21	Oak Brook Park District
Fox Valley
South McHenry, June 6-7	Crystal Lake South HS
North McHenry, June 13-14	McHenry Township Park
Elgin Community College, June 13-14	Elgin Community College
Kane County, June 27-28	Elfstrom Stadium, Geneva
Oswego/Montgomery, June 27-28	Oswego HS