Published: 9/18/2016 10:57:57 PM
SOUTH DEERFIELD — For the first time, Relay For Life of Franklin County is holding a fall rally in hopes of getting more community members involved in 2017’s Relay cancer fundraiser.
The rally will be held Sept. 24 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Yankee Candle’s flagship store at 25 Greenfield Road.
According to American Cancer Society Staff Partner Andrew Paterno, the event will give attendees the chance to share fundraising ideas while learning about Relay For Life, the programs the American Cancer Society is able to fund using relay donations and ways to reduce their risk of cancer.
“Cancer doesn’t really wait until relay time to rear its ugly head,” Paterno said. “This is our effort to get people involved in fundraising sooner.”
As the 2017 relay fundraising season began on Sept. 1, relay participants have nine months until the next Relay For Life of Franklin County and nearly a full year in the 2017 fundraising season. Last year, 723 people participated, raising over $217,000.
Relay For Life is an international event in which participants take turns walking around a track to show support for those who have been affected by cancer, and to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s life-saving cancer research and programs. The Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest fundraising event to fight cancer, with four million participants in 6,000 events worldwide in 2015.
Paterno said the Relay For Life of Franklin County’s planning committee came up with the idea of having a fall rally to “gain momentum before June” and to get new teams and participants involved.
In addition to learning about Relay For Life, Paterno said the rally will feature a scavenger hunt for children and free crafts.
Attendees will also get exclusive after-hours shopping at Yankee Candle Village with a 30-percent discount on most items and at Chandler’s Restaurant. Coupons, which are required to receive the discount, will be available at the rally and at Greenfield Savings Bank branches throughout Franklin County.
Register by todayThe event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required by today. Contact Paterno by email at andrew.paterno@cancer.org or call 413-493-2150 to register.