Bill Russo, who has volunteered on the Relay for Life of Noblesville committee for the past four years, was the featured guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Cicero Kiwanis Club. Russo recently spoke on this annual, day-long event held to celebrate cancer survivors, raise money, and remember those who have lost their battle with cancer. This year’s event is set for 10 a.m. to midnight this Saturday, May 11 at Forest Park in Noblesville.
The Relay for Life movement is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser dedicated to helping communities attack cancer. Through funds donated, time given, and/or awareness raised, communities across the county are teaming up to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
The Relay for Life of Noblesville event, now in its 11th year, has grown in scope. Jen Morris and LuAnn Harger have chaired the event since its inception. Funds raised from the event make many services possible, including Road to Recovery, which offers free rides to and from treatments; Look Good Feel Good, which helps female cancer patients learn beauty tips for navigating the effects of treatments including offering wigs; 1-800-227-2345 number, which is a 24-hour number to call for information, advice, support for patients and caregivers; Hope Lodge and hotel partnerships, which offer free lodging for patients and their families. Where no lodge is available, hotel partnerships are available at a discounted rate.
Funds raised also go towards research, which provides support for grants for research for drugs that are being used to treat cancer and the symptoms of treatment.
“Participants set up campsites, participate in activities, sell items or donate items for the auction, and team members walk around the track or path for the entirety of the event,” said Russo, who serves as the Advocacy and Mission Chairman of the committee. “The walking mirrors a cancer patient’s journey from diagnosis, treatment and cure. Throughout the event several special activities occur. Our opening ceremony honors cancer survivors and their caregivers and is followed with a survivor brunch.”
“Many activities throughout the day are planned by our entertainment committee,” Russo continued. “The community of the Relay for Life of Noblesville is a tight-knit, committed, selfless group of people. They work tirelessly for many months fundraising and organizing and then, rain or shine, spend their weekend at Relay dedicated to the fight against cancer.”
Russo cordially invites the public to participate and see what Relay for Life is all about on Saturday. For more information, visit relayforlife.org/noblesvillein.