American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Roselle Park - Opportunity for All to Make a Difference in the Fight Against Cancer

Roselle Park, NJ, June 04, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The American Cancer Society invites everyone to join more than 4,800 other communities across the United States in celebration of survivorship and hope at Relay For Life of Roselle Park. The annual event will be held at Roselle Park High School Athletic Field, 185 West Webster Avenue, Roselle Park, New Jersey. Day-of-event registration begins at 4:30 pm on Saturday, June 7, 2008. The Relay will continue throughout the night until the closing “Victory Lap” at 7:30 am on Sunday morning.

Relay For Life is an overnight community celebration and fundraiser to fight cancer, where individuals and teams camp out and picnic, while walking or running around a track “relay” style. Because cancer never sleeps, each team has a representative on the track at all times during the overnight event. Contributions collected at Relay For Life of Roselle Park support research, education, advocacy and patient services in Union County. In addition to fundraising efforts, participants at this particular location will have a one time, historic opportunity to sign up for a nationwide Cancer Prevention Study: “CPS-3”. The Roselle Park event is unique because it is the only event in Union County chosen as a study enrollment site.

Cancer Survivors of all ages are invited to celebrate their triumph over cancer during the opening ceremonies starting at 6:00 pm, by participating in an inspirational “Survivor Celebration Lap” to start off the event. A festive atmosphere develops around the track as teams of approximately 8 to 15 people make new friends and spend time with old ones. There is plenty of entertainment scheduled, including music from the band “1.21 Gigawatts”, singer Angela Mintel, and the “Dance In The Stars” competition, which will be judged by cancer survivors in attendance. Games and activities for children and adults will be on-going throughout the night. Those who wish to learn about ACS programs and services may visit the Mission & Advocacy Tent. The ACS/CAN (Cancer Action Network) is inviting everyone 18 and older to “Picture A Cure”, by sending a photo-message to congress expressing voters’ concerns regarding access and funding for health care.

At nightfall, a candlelit service will be featured to honor the survivors, but most importantly, to remember those who lost their battle to this devastating disease. The emotional Luminaria Ceremony sets the stage for the importance of community support and involvement in the fight against cancer and the Relay For Life event. Hundreds of candles line the track and are left burning throughout the night as a reminder of each life that is affected, and the loss their families and loved ones endure.

Caretakers, family members, and friends who have felt the emotional impact of cancer are encouraged to sign up for American Cancer Society study “CPS-3”. Enrollment will be for four hours only, on Saturday, June 7th from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. Volunteers between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never had cancer (other than basal or squamous cell skin cancer) may sign up. At enrollment, volunteers must answer a brief questionnaire, have a waist measurement taken, and give a small blood sample – all of which will be done at the event. The enrollment process takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Participants must agree to long term periodic follow-up which is required to make the study accurate and successful.

CPS-3 is a non-invasive study and no medications are involved with this research. CPS-3 is strictly a statistical study – ACS researchers will track each subject over the course of 20 years by having participants answer annual or bi-annual questionnaires regarding everyday lifestyle habits such as exercise, diet, and tobacco use. The data collected will be used to see which subjects develop cancer and which do not, in hopes of learning how a combination of life choices, environmental exposure, and genetics factor into the causes of cancer, and how to control and perhaps one day cure cancer. CPS-3 will provide answers that will save lives and improve the outlook of future generations.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is the world’s largest not-for-profit fundraising event and gives everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Since the first Relay For Life, held in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington, the event has raised over $2 billion.

“Relay For Life truly embodies the spirit of the American Cancer Society,” said Robin Kraft, director of three New Jersey based Relay For Life events. “Our mission is to bring the community together in the hope that those lost to cancer will not be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.”

For information on CPS-3, contact the American Cancer Society Department of Epidemiology at 1-888-604-5888, or view the CPS-3 website at www.cancer.org/cps3.To learn about Relay For Life of Roselle Park, contact your local American Cancer Society at 973-736-7771, e-mail Mamad15@msn.com, or visit the web at http://www.events.cancer.org/RFLroselleparkNJ

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