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BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Birmingham-Southern College is
holding its first Relay for Life rally this Friday and Saturday,
April 19-20, to support the American Cancer Society and its fight
against cancer.
The rally begins at 6 p.m. on Friday at the college's
intramural fields and ends at 6 a.m. on Saturday. At least 30-40
teams composed of individuals from the Birmingham-Southern and western
area communities will set up a campsite and take turns on the track
with the intent of raising up to $40,000 for the ACS.
Cancer survivors will make a "victory lap"
during the rally's opening ceremony, which begins at 6 p.m. At 10
p.m., there will be a luminaria ceremony with hundreds of candles
lit to honor cancer survivors and to memorialize victims. Supporters
of the rally will be treated to food, live bands, and games during
the all night fund-raiser.
"Birmingham-Southern was eager to participate
in the rally this year because so many of our students, faculty,
staff, and alumni have been affected by cancer in their own families,"
said Jason Avery, co-chair of the rally and a BSC alum who lost
his mother to cancer nearly two years ago. "We're bringing
Relay for Life to BSC to create unity among the campus community
and to raise awareness and money in the hopes of keeping someone's
loved one alive."
Relay for Life is a national event that celebrates
cancer survivors and remembers people who've lost their lives to
the disease. Money raised from the event-around $240 million annually-funds
cancer research, advocacy, patient services, and education.
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