CrystalJackieThe Kick-Off of the 19th annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Whiteside County will be held Sunday, February 23, 2014, at the American Legion Post #902, 714 4th Avenue, in Rock Falls, IL, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Pictured are Co-Chairs of the 2014 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Whiteside County:  Crystal Sublett and Jackie Greve.   

When you arrive, you will be given one free ticket to taste the chili.  Teams already registered will be selling bowls of chili to start the fundraising for their team and vying for the Tasters’ Choice Award.   

Many door prizes will be given away during the Kick-Off.  Videos of past Relays will be shown, and lots of information will be available for those attending.  Citizens from throughout Whiteside County are invited to find out how they can become involved in the fight against cancer, by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.  During the Kick-Off, any person wishing to organize a team may officially register and choose their campsite for the event, to be held at Hinders Field of Rock Falls High School on Saturday, June 7, through Sunday, June 8.  The goal for this year’s event is 40 teams.

RelayForLife logoTeams of any number (8 to 15 members are preferred) may be formed now.  Members raise money for the American Cancer Society.  At the event only one member needs to be on the track at any given time.  The event is not competitive–team members may run, jog, walk, push a baby carriage, or whatever, around the track.  Team members may bring tents, lawn chairs, sleeping bags, and picnic foods to this overnight event. 

Throughout the night there will be fun activities, a luminaria ceremony that remembers those who have battled the disease, and an opening lap that is reserved for all survivors as Guests of Honor.  This makes the event a unique way of honoring those who have battled the disease, at the same time as joining in the fight against cancer, by raising funds and being educated at the event about how to fight the disease in one’s own life.  This event is a celebration of survivorship and a memorial to those who lost the battle.

For further information about this Whiteside County event, contact the website of www.RelayForLife.org/whitesideIL or contact Cassandra at the local American Cancer Society office at 815-229-1287.