Relay For Life of Cullman County announces 2023 anniversary event

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Relay For Life will return to Cullman Saturday, April 29, at Depot Park. A kick-off meeting will take place Thursday, Jan. 19, at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Cullman First Baptist Church. (Contributed)

CULLMAN, Ala. – Relay For Life of Cullman County will return to Depot Park in downtown Cullman on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 5-10 p.m. for its 30th anniversary relay. 

Relay For Life celebrates cancer survivors, remembers those lost to the disease and raises funds to support patients and find cures. Cullman has participated in Relay For Life since 1994, contributing over $1 million to the cause. 

“Cancer diagnosis has come a long way; many more of those diagnosed with cancer are surviving because of the money that has been raised by Relay For Life for researchers,” said event team leadership chairperson Helen Allen. “But there is still so much to be done, those researchers work daily to finance the dreams of all of us, to eradicate cancer.  So please help in this fight, for those who have been diagnosed, and for those who will be diagnosed in the future until a cure is found.” 

The committee will host a kick-off meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Cullman First Baptist Church, 501 Second Ave. SW. Anyone interested in taking part as a team, volunteer or sponsor is welcome to attend the meeting.  

Allen said, “With Covid taking the toll on all walks of life, Relay For Life, cancer patients and the fight against cancer have been among those who have suffered greatly. This fight needs you more than ever, so we  ask you to search your hearts and find a way to help stop cancer in its tracks. This can only be done by a community banding together in financing researchers and patient services. Please consider forming a team, if you cannot form a team, give a donation to Relay or become a sponsor, any way you feel you can  help in this fight.” 

Plans for the 2023 event include live entertainment, food trucks, children’s activities and more.   

Relay For Life of Cullman County is a local volunteer-led effort to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.  The Society supplies millions of dollars each year in cancer research, patient support, prevention information and education, and detection and treatment programs.  

“Education, prevention and early detection are so important when it comes to defeating cancer,” Allen said. “A cancer diagnosis is devastating no matter what stage, but when it’s caught early, patients are lucky because in most cases they can avoid the treatments and procedures we all fear and have a much greater chance of survival. And research can help lead to more tests to catch cancer earlier and better ways to treat cancer. We must continue to support their efforts so that our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren can benefit in the future.” 

To register a team, join a team, make a donation or for more information, visit www.relayforlife.org/cullmanal or contact Helen Allen at 256-709-4019 or helenma1941@gmail.com.  

For more information about the American Cancer Society, including access to 24/7 assistance, visit www.cancer.org or call 800-227-2345.