Kane Area Relay for Life Gearing Up for 10th Anniversary Event in July

With 140 days and counting until the 10th anniversary event -- July 16-17, 2010 noon to noon-- for the Kane Area Relay for Life, twenty teams are already lining up their fundraising efforts for the year.

On Saturday, February 6, for example, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the First Church of God Fellowship Hall, the Walking by Faith Relay team will have a soup and pie dinner and craft sale. Soup will also be sold by the pint or quart. A wide variety of homemade soups will be available. Pre-orders are welcome by calling 598-0220.

This is just one of hundreds of events planned to help meet goals established for Kane by the McKean County Unit of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and announced at the Kane Area Relay’s monthly meeting held this week.

The goals include increasing the number of participating teams to 25. Currently 20 teams are registered. If you, your employer, club, class, neighborhood, church or family are interested in exploring having a team, call team recruiter Kellie Ely at 837-9338 to learn more about the opportunity.

The total financial goal for the 2010 Kane Area Relay was set at $84,000 by ACS. This is $5,000 higher than the amount raised in 2009.

The sponsorship goal is $5,800. Sponsors are individuals or businesses who donate money in support of the overall event. Contributions range from $50 to $5,000. So far $1,950 in commitments from individuals and businesses have been made. To discuss becoming a sponsor, call Tom VanGiesen at 837-7822.

The survivor participation goal is 76, with 48 registered survivors to date. If you are a cancer survivor (a survivor being anyone who has ever heard the words “You have cancer”) you are encouraged to contact Brenda Emer at 837-7840.

The online fundraising goal is $5,100. Thus far team members have raised $415 online. To contribute online to your favorite team, you are invited to go to the Relay website at www.relayforlife.org/pakane.

Fundraisers can happen as an all-team fundraiser, a single team fundraiser, or a team member fundraiser. The “Cooking for a Cure” 2010 cookbook (already in it’s second printing) and the Kane Music Boosters Cash Bash April 10 (an event that the Kane Area Relay will co-partner this year) are examples of all-team fundraisers. Cookbooks or cash bash tickets can be purchased from any team.


As individual teams or individual team members gear up with fundraisers that are sure to fill the social calendars and gift giving needs of local residents, please remember that 40% of what Kane Area Relay raises goes to critical research for a cure. And the other 60% stays in the area for ACS-offered care and services to cancer patients.

If you or someone you love hears the words "You have cancer" please make sure the person who hears the words calls and registers with the ACS. The number to call is 1-800-ACS-2345. The local ACS number is 368-3646. The reason we Relay is to make certain that 60% of what we raise is used for care and services in support of cancer patients and their families in our community. ACS can't help an individual if they are not registered.

If you would like to know more about the Kane Area Relay for Life, please join us at the next team captain or organizer meetings at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively on March 2 at the St. Callistus Hall or call Marianne Rook at 837-7115 or Shirley Morgan at 837-9696. You'll be glad you did. Together let's "Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back" against cancer in the Kane Area.

Pictured, in the foreground Marianne Rook, Chair of the Relay for Life of the Kane Area doing cartwheels at the announcement that the ninth annual Relay for Life blew past their 2009 goal. In the background organizers are shocked and thrilled.
(Photo courtesy of Ruth Gentilman Peterson)