For Antigo Times

Antigo, Wisconsin – The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Langlade County will hold a free kickoff for the annual August event on March 16, at 5:30 p.m. at Aspirus Langlade Hospital, in the large conference room behind the Chapel. Everyone is invited to the kickoff to learn about how to help the American Cancer Society save more lives from cancer. Food and refreshments will be provided. The program will highlight how the community has benefited from funds raised and will honor cancer survivors and caregivers. Guests will have the opportunity to register a team or themselves for the Relay For Life event, which will be held on August 19-20 at Peaceful Valley Park in Antigo. The committee will be announcing this year’s event theme, provide fundraising and registration information and upcoming opportunities people will have when participating in the event.

The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all. Relay For Life events are community gatherings where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Many family type activities are featured at the events. Teams and individuals participate in fundraising in the months leading up to the event.

The Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest fundraising event to fight every cancer in every community, with four million participants in 6,000 events worldwide in 2015. Last year, 295 people participated in the Relay For Life of Langlade County and raised $51,000.

“This is our community’s opportunity to help save lives from cancer by taking our message to more people and raising more dollars to fund the fight,” said Jolene Guenthner, event lead. “Together, our efforts can make a big difference.”

Visit www.relayforlife.org/langladecountywi to learn more about the event, register for free, or contact Diane Geis Hapka, the event’s staff partner with The American Cancer Society at 715-891-2061 or diane.hapka@cancer.org.