Relay for Life makes strides toward cure Published May 21, 2014 By Senior Airman Joshua Edwards 17th Training Wing Public Affairs SAN ANGELO, Texas -- The American Cancer Society hosted a 12-hour Relay for Life at the LeGrand Sports Complex here May 16, raising money for cancer research and patient care. This year, 108 teams with 1,356 registered participants, of those, 24 teams with 364 members had a military affiliation, walked, jogged and ran to help with the fight against cancer. "We must find a cure," said Kimberly D. Adams, Relay for Life event chairman. "If you look at all the survivors wearing these purple shirts, there are over 200 people out here wearing them. There are over 350 people out here wearing caregiver shirts ... a third of the people out here have been directly affected by cancer." Dozens of service members' teams helped collect 10 percent of the donations to help people affected with cancer by hosting different fund raising events before and during Relay for Life. Airman 1st Class Lewis K. Moore Jr., 17th Communications Squadron Knowledge Operations manager, said that the 17th CS had a few fundraisers to include a car wash and several burgers burns. Fundraising is a part of the Relay for Life, but some people stress the importance of going to the relay to show support. "The Relay for Life is so important," said Col. Brendan M. Harris, 17th Training Group Commander. "Cancer victims and survivors need to understand they have our support, and relay gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our love and commitment to these people who have and had this deadly disease. The money relay raises goes to victims' care and to fund research, so that we can eventually find a cure." Hundreds of people made it throughout the night staying the full 12 hours completing this year's Relay for Life. Next year's Relay for Life is slated for mid-May.
