Candles Glow In Honor of Survivors and Those Lost to Cancer at American Cancer Society Relay For Life Event

When the sun goes down on June 1st at the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Stow and Munroe Falls, hope shines the brightest. Relay For Life participants and donors will remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor those battling the disease by dedicating luminaria, clear vessels containing a candle. Each luminaria is personalized with a name, photo, message or drawing in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer. Luminaria can also be dedicated in support of a Relay participant. Each luminaria candle represents a person. They are our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends, coworkers, and so many others. Luminaria are transformed and illuminated after dark. At 9 p.m. on June 1st, participants will light hundreds of luminaria around the track at Akron General Wellness North in a moving ceremony to honor cancer survivors, as well as friends and loved ones lost to the disease. Participants will walk or jog a lap of the track lit only by the light of hundreds of candles.

“The luminaria are my favorite part of Relay,” states Christina Getrost, member of Relay team Send Cancer to the Showers, “because they are such a beautiful and visual reminder of why we Relay. I like knowing there is a physical representation there of the loved ones I wish to honor, and the candles all lit together are an amazing sight.” This ceremony of light symbolizes the hope and perseverance with which we all continue to fight. Become part of this moving tribute by ordering a luminaria from any Relay For Life team member, by contacting Luminaria Chairperson Megan Lally at megan.lally@yahoo.com or 330-416-4437, or by clicking on Donate at the Relay website, www.relayforlife.org/stowmunroefalls. The suggested tax-deductible luminaria donation amount is $10.00 each. Luminaria Chairperson Megan Lally said, “I'm very proud to be involved in such a special and inspirational part of the Relay event.  We sold over 1,000 luminaria in 2012 and our goal is to sell 1,500 for this year’s event!”

For more information, visit the Relay website, find us on Facebook, or contact Brad Bebout at 330.322.5473 To contact the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org. You can also stop by the next Relay Captains meeting, 7:00 p.m. Wed. April 3rd, at Akron General Wellness North (4300 Allen Road). Everyone is welcome! And the Relay’s next Bob Evans Restaurant fundraiser will be Wed. April 10. Fliers can be obtained from any Relay team or committee member, or by going to the Relay website to download your copy.