From close family members to close friends, we all know someone whose life has been touched by cancer at some point. We don’t face cancer alone and neither should you. On Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Fort Dodge City Square, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Webster County will kick off with a special Survivors Lap, a moving experience honoring those who have touched by cancer. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest support group for survivors and their caregivers with more than 5,000 community Relay For Life events around the country and celebrating those individuals who are winning the fight.

At Relay, cancer survivors and caregivers come together to be recognized for their personal fight against a disease that has taken too much. In addition to a special ceremony, Survivors and Caregivers laps open the event and serve as a testament to the fight against cancer and the hope for a cure. Relay’s new location and time, at the Fort Dodge City Square (11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), will provide participants with fun activities, great food and a meaningful new way of honoring and remembering those touched by cancer by tying cancer ribbons, along with personal notes, on trees.

Duane Amhoff will be this year’s Relay Honorary Survivor, sharing his story of hope, inspiration and his ability to fight back against his disease. A cancer survivor is defined by the American Cancer Society as anyone who is living with cancer, from the date of diagnosis. If you have ever heard the words, “You have cancer,” we invite you to participate as a survivor.

With the progress being made on all fronts by the American Cancer Society, the number of cancer survivors is growing every year. Thanks to early detection and more effective treatments, millions are going on to not only survive the disease but are leading incredibly full and inspiring lives. There are more than 14 million cancer survivors living in the United States. The Society marked a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates since 1991, which means more than 1.3 million lives saved.

Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups; people from all walks of life — all aimed at celebrating the lives of those who have had cancer, remembering those lost, and fighting back against the disease. If you are a cancer survivor or caregiver and would like to take part in the Relay, call Allison Peterson at 570-1026. All survivors receive a free Relay For Life T-shirt and a special gift. No registration is necessary; all survivors are welcome to join Relay. There will be a special reception area designated for all survivors and caregivers near the entrance of the Fort Dodge Library.

We complete the Relay experience with our Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer. Fighting back is your personal commitment to do something as simple as getting a screening test, quitting smoking, or talking to elected officials about cancer. By taking action, people are personally taking steps to save lives and help finish the fight.

No matter why you take part in Relay, one thing is clear: With every step you take, you are helping the American Cancer Society save lives. ACS helps nearly one million people touched by cancer each year get the help they need when and where they need it. Their cancer information specialists answer questions, provide information, and refer people to community resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via phone (1-800-227-2345), email, and live online chats on cancer.org. They help patients and their families with their most pressing needs: getting rides to treatment, navigating the health care system, dealing with the side effects of treatment. Whatever the need, ACS can help.

While the American Cancer Society is making progress toward a world without cancer, only with your dedication and donation efforts can we finish the fight against the disease. Each person who shares the Relay For Life experience can take pride in knowing that they are working to create a world where this disease will no longer threaten our loved ones or rob anyone of another birthday.

Dr. Carrie Jo Calisesi is chairperson for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Webster County. For more information about donating or participating in Relay, please visit RelayForLife.org/WebsterCountyIA.

American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Webster County

Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

New Time & Location – Fort Dodge City Square

Schedule of Events

11 a.m. – Survivor and Team Registration

11:30 a.m. – OPENING CEREMONIES

Presentation of Colors

National Anthem

SURVIVOR CEREMONY

Honorary survivor – Duane Amhoff

SURVIVOR LAP

CAREGIVER LAP

PARADE OF TEAMS

12:15 – 3 p.m. ENTERTAINMENT

Raffle – Fort Dodge Senior High and St. Edmond chairs

DJ – Craig and Wally Schlienz

FDSH Cheer performance

Face painting by FDSH cheerleaders

Sidewalk chalk

Relay photo booth

Bead laps

Frozen T-shirt contest

Zumba/Yoga

Food: Pork and beef burgers, brats

2 p.m. – Luminary Ceremony

2:30 p.m. – Closing Ceremonies