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Relay for Life at YSU will be first of 2010
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
YOUNGSTOWN
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Youngstown, the first of many area relay fundraisers scheduled this spring and summer, is Friday and Saturday inside Youngstown State University’s Beeghly Center.
Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. Friday. The “survivors’ lap” officially begins the Relay, followed by a Survivors’ Dinner. Survivors who have not pre-registered may register Friday. The event ends at noon Saturday.
Special guests for the event include the Children’s ROCcK Choir, City Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st, and YSU president-elect Dr. Cynthia Anderson.
Justin Joseph Edwards will provide musical entertainment during the midnight hours, and Dallas Blocker will be featured during the Fight Back Ceremony on Saturday morning.
Other activities include a Kids Korner featuring children’s games, an obstacle course, a Monopoly tournament, name that Elvis song and contests such as Guitar Hero and Wii Sports provided by X meet.
“Relay is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against the disease,” said Sharon Schroeder, event chairwoman.
Relay For Life’s luminaria ceremony takes place after sundown, honoring the community’s cancer survivors and remembering those lost to the disease. Weather permitting, participants at the ceremony will be outside. Also, people may view the ceremony on a large screen inside Beeghly Center.
Luminarias that list the names of those who battled this disease may be had for a donation of $10 each. To order a luminaria or for a full schedule of the activities and entertainment at this Relay, visit www.relayforlife.org/youngstown.
Major event sponsors are Cassese’s MVR, DiRusso’s, Gia Russa, Sodexho, Trademark Entertainment, Vector Security, YSU and its department of biological sciences and police department. In-kind donations are provided by Danielle Battafarano, Home Savings and Loan Company, Locust Grove Baptist Church, Marion’s Pretzels and YSU Campus Recreation.
RELAY FOR LIFE
Scheduled dates
Relay For Life is the signature event for the American Cancer Society in which teams of 10 to 15 people are formed by churches, groups, schools, families and others to participate. Relays help raise income for cancer research. All relays are on the weekend and range from 18 to 24 hours. Below are the dates for relays in Columbiana, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
Columbiana County
June 4-5: Frank Mangano Field, East Liverpool.
July 9-10: Crestview Football Stadium, Columbiana.
June 25-26: Waterworth Memorial Park, Salem.
Mahoning County
Friday-Saturday: Beeghly Center, Youngstown State University.
May 14-15: Boardman Center Middle School.
June 4-5: Austintown Fitch High School.
June 18-19: Springfield High School.
July 9-10: Poland Seminary High School.
Trumbull County
April 30-May 1: Mayor Infante Wellness Center, Waddell Park, Niles.
May 7-8: Trumbull County Courthouse Square, downtown Warren.
May 14-15: Church Hill Park, Liberty.
June 4-5: Lakeview High School, Cortland.
June 11-12: Newton Falls High School.
For information on the Relay for Life, call ACS toll-free at (800) 227-2345 or visit ACS’s Web site, www.cancer.org.
Source: American Cancer Society