Each Lap Brings Us Closer to a Cure

Relay For Life mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones lost, and raise money for the continuing fight against cancer.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Broken Arrow is rapidly approaching. Scheduled to kick off Friday evening, June 3 at 6 p.m., the 12-hour event will conclude Saturday at 6 a.m. The Relay For Life of Broken Arrow is held at South Intermediate High School Track & Field on 101st Street. Throughout the event, Relay team members will be walking the track, competing in games, enjoying live and silent auctions open to the public, consuming lots of good food, and celebrating life. Teams are the lifeblood of Relay For Life.

Relay For Life mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones lost, and raise money for the continuing fight against cancer.

Everybody – cancer survivors, caregivers, family members, businesses, civic organizations, and the public – is encouraged to take part in all or part of the fun festivities scheduled during the Relay For Life of Broken Arrow as we raise funds to support research, cancer survivors and their families, and to help find the cure that will put an end to this devastating disease.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the most experienced cancer control organization in the world. It is the only cancer fighting organization operating on a community, statewide, and national level. Since 1946, ACS has raised more than $3.2 billion for cancer research, and they are the largest private nonprofit source of funding for scientists studying cancer. ACS has funded 42 Nobel Laureates and funds 25 percent of all new investigators’ research on cancer.

One hundred and twenty million dollars is invested in peer-reviewed cancer research annually, and there are more than two million ACS volunteers nationwide. Additionally, more than one million calls per year are made to ACS for information about cancer. Calls are taken 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The number for cancer information is 1-800-227-2345.

In 2010, an estimated 18,670 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Oklahoma. There were an estimated 7,660 cancer deaths in Oklahoma, and three percent of Oklahomans are estimated to be living with a cancer diagnosis.

There are currently six research grants in effect funded by the American Cancer Society in Oklahoma, an investment totaling close to $3.2 million. Researchers are at The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and The University of Oklahoma Health Science Center.

In 2010, Oklahoma had 75 Relay For Life events statewide, recognized 5,018 cancer survivors, had 1,730 RFL teams participating in events, and raised a total of $5,600,000. Our 2011 goals are to have 78 RFL events, increase sponsorship participation by five percent, and raise $5,777,000. In 2011, ACS served more than 8,332 cancer patients across Oklahoma, and served more than 6,443 newly diagnosed cancer patients. If everyone affected by cancer – directly or indirectly – participates in the fundraising, goals will be easily accomplished.

Some of the ACS-sponsored services and programs in Oklahoma include: Gas Card, Camp Live-a-Dream, Camp OK Coral, Look Good…Feel Better, Reach to Recovery, Guest Room Program, Wig Room, Road to Recovery, Personal Health Managers, ACS Days, the 24-hour Help and Information Hotline, and the ACS website (www.cancer.org).

The fundraising done through Relay For Life of Broken Arrow keeps our community active in the fight. We need your support – by sponsoring a team, by joining a team, by being a corporate sponsor, by making a donation, or by attending our Relay For Life event on Friday evening, June 3, at South Intermediate High School Track & Field. Come out and see what others in the Broken Arrow community are doing to celebrate life and fight cancer. We guarantee you’ll have fun helping a great cause help others!

For more information, contact

Relay For Life of ­Broken Arrow

(918) 857-6333