On Saturday, June 2nd, people of all ages gathered to West Bloomfield High School’s track and field for Relay For Life. This incredible event is held once a year and helps communities across the globe celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. This 24-hour event brings out thousands of people and is always a huge success!
Different walks are held throughout the day, The Survivors Lap is held early in the morning and is an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate victories achieved over cancer. After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence. Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.
The second half of the day was a bit scary with intense rain and winds, but that didn’t stop participants from leaving their tents or the track for that matter. Everyone was extremely dedicated and stuck out the night. Glow bracelets and necklaces were handed out after dark while bands performed on the main stage for entertainment. Relay For Life is truly a moving experience and something everyone should experience.
To learn more about Relay For Life, go to: http://www.relayforlife.org
-
- Participants walking the track
-
- Relay For Life 2012
-
- Paper bags representing ones touched by cancer
-
- Fans displayed in the tent
-
- Mickey Weishaus and daughter Lonnee Cohen
-
- Fans were decorated during the day for the participants to use while walking the track
-
- Family and friends gathered in their tent during the rain storm
-
- Tents set up on the field for the overnighters
-
- Candles were placed on the bleechers to represent hope
-
- Lindsay Madden, Zak Rosen and Jo Rosen
-
- Sue Kalisky, Jay Kalisky and Shelley Gordon
-
- Participants walking the track
-
- Glow bracelets handed out after dark
-
- All the teams tents circled the field
