Relay For Life of Stow and Munroe Falls Gears up for 2013

The American Cancer Society is pleased to announce the formation of the fourth annual Relay For Life Event of Stow-Munroe Falls.  The Relay will be held on June 1st and 2nd, 2013, at Akron General LifeStyles at 4300 Allen Rd. in Stow.  It is in the process of forming a new committee and is looking for volunteers. From October and going through the event in June, we will have a Steering Committee meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. Generally our meetings are held at the Akron General LifeStyles facility at 7:00 pm; however, our meeting on October 3rd will be held at The Hampton Inn meeting room, 4331 Lakepointe Corporate Drive in Stow, which is adjacent to the Akron General LifeStyles. All are welcome to attend, particularly if you would like to join the committee or take an active role in helping to plan the 2013 Relay.  If you need more information, please call Brad Bebout at 330-322-5473.

What is Relay For Life?

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at Akron General LifeStyles and take turns walking around the designated track in the parking lot. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

 What Happens at Relay For Life events?

Although every Relay For Life is different, there are certain traditions at all Relays, no matter where they are held.  These traditions help participants celebrate, remember and fight back.

 Celebrate – The Survivors Lap

Relay starts with a Survivors Lap – an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we’ve achieved over cancer. The Survivors Lap is an emotional example of how Relay participants are ensuring that more lives are saved each year – like those of each individual on the track. We also recognize and celebrate caregivers at Relay For Life. These individuals give their time, love, and support to friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers who face cancer. At Relay, people understand the frustrations and joys of being a caregiver, since the effects of cancer reach far beyond just the person diagnosed.

 Remember – The Luminaria Ceremony

After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside plastic containers filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants walk a lap in silence. As people take time to remember, those who have walked alongside others battling cancer can grieve and find healing. This is a time that truly highlights the importance of defeating this disease.

 Fight Back – The Fight Back Ceremony

Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer. That personal commitment may be to do something as simple as getting a screening test, quitting smoking, or talking to elected officials about cancer. By taking action, people are personally taking steps to save lives and fight back against a disease that takes too much.

 This year, the Relay For Life of Stow-Munroe Falls’ focus will be:  Community Commitment Can Cure Cancer.

Brad Bebout, Shelly Flanagan, Rhonda Eddy—Stow-Munroe Falls Relay For Life Event Chairs

For more information about the relay, please contact Brad Bebout bwbebout@yahoo.com (330-322-5473) or

Jamie Zychowski, American Cancer Society Staff Partner at jamie.zychowski@cancer.org