Local relays among best in state, U.S.

Trumbull County was the top fund-raiser in its population group nationally.
CANFIELD -- The Warren and Boardman 2005 American Cancer Society Relays for Life were ranked first and second, respectively, in Ohio, and were among the best single relays in the country.
The Warren Relay netted $543,433.23 and was also ranked 18th nationwide, while the Boardman Relay generated $331,900.72 and was ranked 74th in the country.
With Warren and Boardman leading the way, the combined relays in Trumbull and Mahoning counties also garnered national recognition, ACS officials said.
Five Trumbull County relays -- in Cortland, Liberty, Lordstown, Niles and Warren -- raised a combined $1,033,237, making the county No. 1 in the nation out of 144 counties in its population group of 150,000 to 249,999. Trumbull County's population is 227,167.
Also, Trumbull County is one of only 39 counties nationwide to achieve the $1 million or more mark, and is the first and only Ohio County to attain this achievement, according to an American Cancer Society press release.
The Mahoning County combined relays ranked seventh in the nation out of 126 counties in the population group of 250,000 to 499,999. The six Mahoning County Relays generated $593,306. Mahoning County's population is 250,019.
Teamwork
"When we first got started in the Boardman Relay, we did so because we had people in our family and at work who had cancer. So, we decided to try it and raised $1,700 our first year," said Christine Ignazio of Boardman and team captain of the Boardman Rotary team. In 2005, the Boardman Rotary team raised about $19,000.
"Our community is remarkable. The work of our co-chairs, board members, cancer survivors and Relay For Life team volunteers has accomplished what many would have said is impossible," said Dr. Robert T. Brodell of Warren, who was inducted this year into the national American Cancer Society Relay For Life Hall of Fame.
Two Warren Relay teams, Antenucci Inc. and the Brodell Medical Group, were recognized this year as two of the 38 national teams to raise $50,000 or more. The Brodell Medical Group team raised $57,557.83, and the Antenucci team raised $57,524.72.
"It's exciting to say our area is the relay capital of Ohio," said Jo-Ann Crank, executive director of the ACS Mahoning Area office in Canfield.
In 2005, there were 199 relays in Ohio raising more than $15.3 million. There were 4,332 relays across the United States that raised more than $353 million.
"We hear a great deal about the money raised, but we want the community to realize that we use these funds wisely in our mission to stop cancer. We invest our donations in cancer research, to assist cancer patients and to educate people about ways to prevent cancer," said Al Stabilito, Eastern Ohio public relations director of the American Cancer Society.
For more information about Relay For Life or the free programs and services, call the American Cancer Society at (330) 533-0546 or toll free at (888) 227-6446.
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