Relay for Life Flagler

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

As a large group of cancer survivors lined up Saturday, April 28, at the Relay For Life of Flagler, the crowd around them erupted in cheers of encouragement. Wearing their purple shirts proudly, one-by-one, they bent down to receive a medal in celebration of their triumphant battle with the disease.

The American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life is an overnight event aimed at celebrating survivors, remembering those lost and fighting back through fundraising.

“We hope because we know that every day and every dollar brings us closer to that time when scientists and researchers and our physicians will announce that they have a cure for this disease,” said Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts at the opening ceremony.

Although fundraising continues through August, as of Monday, April 30, the Flagler event raised $48,000 through the help of 47 teams. Of those teams, 27 camped out at the overnight event, symbolizing that cancer never sleeps.

“The only way that you can fight cancer is that you have to know you have cancer,” three-time survivor Bob Franks said. “It does no good to pretend it doesn’t exist. If something is wrong, you go to the doctors. You get your butt there and check it out.”