Cancer Society Relay for Life kickoff slated for Thursday

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Putnam County/DePauw University will hold a free kickoff for the annual event on Thursday, Feb. 4.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Area 30 Career Center, 1 N. Calbert Way, Greencastle.

Everyone is invited to the kickoff to learn about how to help the American Cancer Society save more lives from cancer.

The program will highlight how the community has benefited from funds raised and will honor cancer survivors and caregivers.

Speakers will present information on a variety of Relay topics and answer questions. Guests will have the opportunity to register a team for the Relay For Life event, scheduled for Saturday, May 7 at DePauw's Blackstock Stadium from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.

The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all. Relay For Life events are community gatherings where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park or fairgrounds and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

Teams participate in fundraising in the months leading up to the event.

The Relay For Life movement is the world's largest fundraising event to fight every cancer in every community, with four million participants in 6,000 events worldwide in 2015.

Last year, more than 380 people participated in the Relay For Life of Putnam County/DePauw University and raised $60,300.

"This is our community's opportunity to help save lives from cancer by taking our message to more people and raising more dollars to fund the fight," event chairman Richard Shuck said. "Together, our efforts can make a big difference."

Visit relayforlife.org/PutnamCountyIN to learn more about the event, or contact Shannon Giles at 812-307-9117 or Shannon.Giles@cancer.org.

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2.5 million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates.

For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call anytime at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.