Thousands of people are getting ready to help ease the pain of people currently undergoing cancer treatment by sponsoring, participating and volunteering for the 2013 American Cancer Society Relay For Life of McKinney and its various pre-event activities.
The annual over-night fundraiser for the ACS will be held 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Friday, April 26, at the Ballfields at Craig Ranch, 6151 Alma Road in McKinney. Thousands of people will converge at the ball fields to walk and run throughout the night, sell items and play games while camping out on the ball fields to raise money for the ACS.
All proceeds generated from the 2013 Relay For Life of McKinney, presented by Darling Homes, will be used to fund cancer drug treatment programs and cancer patient programs. Each Relay event has a fund-raising goal, and the McKinney Relay fund-raising goal is $513,000 this year. The 2012 RFL of McKinney raised approximately $500,000 thanks to the many corporate and individual sponsors, and dedicated and hardworking team captains, participants and volunteers.
Relay For Life of McKinney is a family-friendly event and will feature various games, musical acts, including the Maylee Thomas Band and Zydeco Stingrays, themed walking fund-raising events, and activities to keep people busy throughout the night. If you would like to volunteer for Relay For Life of McKinney, please contact the event co-chairs Sherry Jeffcoat at sherry.relaymckinney@yahoo.com and Alesha Crowell at alesha.relaymckinney@yahoo.com.
Each year, luminaria, which are lit bags that feature the names of people who are fighting cancer or who have lost their battle, are sold and lit at Relay. However, this year, luminaria will be placed and lit at more personal settings – on the curbside of peoples’ homes at sundown on April 26 to bring Relay For Life out into our neighborhoods. Luminaria for Light Up The Night may be ordered now through April 1 and cost $10 for a white bag; $25 for a red bag; $50 for a blue bag; and $100 for a purple bag. For more information about Light Up The Night, contact RFL of McKinney Light Up The Night Chairperson Beth Darling at BethDarling123@gmail.com.
Businesses and organizations can also help support the McKinney RFL by helping to paint the town purple, which is the RFL theme color, during the citywide pep rally "Paint The Town Purple" event. Local businesses will break out the purple ribbon and signs to promote the award winning RFL of McKinney fundraiser from April 14 through April 27. To participate in "Paint The Town Purple," please contact veteran RFL of McKinney "Paint The Town Purple" Chairperson Janet Trowbridge at janettrowbridge3@gmail.com.
The RFL of McKinney Committee will also reach out to McKinney area churches to invite cancer survivors to be celebrated at RFL of McKinney. The committee is asking pastors to include a RFL of McKinney information card on March 24 for the Purple Prayer Sunday event to invite cancer survivors in the church’s congregation to attend Relay and to be a guest of honor at RFL. For more information, please contact RFL of McKinney Director of Missions Cara Fraser at cara.relaymckinney@yahoo.com.
To register as a participant, cancer survivor, become a sponsor, or to volunteer at the 2013 RFL of McKinney, please visit www.RelayForLife.org/McKinneyTx.