Second Annual Relay For Life At Astoria Park June 2

No one should have to face cancer alone- that's why cancer survivors, caregivers, family members, corporate sponsors, neighbors, individuals and relay teams will join together in a celebration of survivorship and hope at the Second Annual Relay For Life of Astoria at the Astoria Park Track on June 2.

The opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, followed by the caregivers lap at 6:15 p.m., the luminaria lighting ceremony begins at 9 p.m. and the closing ceremony begins at 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 3.

Relay For Life (RFL) is an overnight community celebration where groups of friends, families, neighbors, and co-workers form teams of 10 to 15 to honor cancer survivors and those lost to cancer by walking or running around a track, raising spirits, awareness and funds to fight cancer through American Cancer Society research, education, advocacy and patient and family services in the community.

Highlighting the evening is the luminaria ceremony held at nightfall to honor cancer survivors and to remember loved ones lost to cancer. Each light, laid out alongside the track or on the bleachers, will be lit at 9 p.m. For a donation of just $10 per luminaria, friends and families can take part in this moving ceremony.

Also at the event will be food, games, music and fun. Sponsors of this event include the Commerce Bank.

The American Cancer Society is currently seeking volunteers to help organize and participate in the second annual Relay For Life of Astoria. Businesses, families, community groups and other organizations can form teams and help RFLreach their goal. Even if you can't form a team, you can still be part of this special day by supporting the luminaria ceremony, becoming a sponsor or making an in-kind donation of food, beverages or entertainment.

There is a $10 per person registration fee and every team member that raises a minimum of $100 will receive a Relay For Life t-shirt.

Since the first Relay For Life was held in Tacoma, Washington in 1985, the event has raised nearly $2 billion. In 2007, Relay For Life is hoping to raise $420 million.

For more information about how you can get involved with the second annual Relay For Life of Astoria, please contact Erica Siegel at 718.263.2225, ext. 13, or visit the Web at www.acsevents.org/relay/ny/astoria.

For those who participate in Relay For Life, the event represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that the disease will one day be eliminated.