The Mahoning Valley's outstanding outpouring of giving in the American Cancer Society's annual

The Mahoning Valley's outstanding outpouring of giving in the American Cancer Society's annual Relays for Life proves that our residents are a caring, compassionate and generous lot.
This weekend the 2004 season kicked off with the Youngstown State University Relay for Life, the first of 14 such events in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties over the next two months. ACS officials have set a $1,686,000 Valleywide fund-raising goal for 2004, a 10 percent increase over the $1.5 million raised in 2003.
We're confident that the region will meet or beat that goal and again steal the national spotlight as leaders in Relay for Life giving. The Warren relay, for example, has been No. 1 in the state and nation for the past several years in moneymaking. The Boardman relay ranked second in the state and sixth in the nation last year.
Relays for Life, the major fund-raising effort of the American Cancer Society, features teams of families, friends and co-workers who join other teams for overnight activities. Team members walk or jog around a track to honor the courageous spirit of those battling cancer.
In addition to the camaraderie and entertainment at each event, relays provide local ACS chapters critical funding to advance their goals of education, advocacy, research and services for cancer patients.
It's not too late to join this year's events to ensure the ambitious fund-raising goal can be met. Contact the ACS at (330) 533-0546 or find details on individual Relays at the ACS Web site, www.cancer.org.
Cancer survivors in our region are counting on us to continue our tradition of exemplary giving.