Elk Grove students participate in annual Relay for Life

Carly Benjamin, Staff Reporter

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 16, because Relay For Life (RFL) will be having its annual event. As most people know, English teacher Rita Sayre has been directing the organization for more than 10 years, helping the American Cancer Society fund research for all types of cancer. To Sayre, there are many purposes to the event.

To prepare for the event this May, Sayre and others involved with RFL will be playing the movie “Frozen” on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. and on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. in the theatre. Along with the movie, there will be karaoke, sing-a-longs and according to Sayre, there will be a potential appearance of “Frozen” characters Elsa and Anna. Admission will only be $1.

“We are celebrating our victories, both over cancer and over fundraising,” Sayre said. “We remember those who we have lost to the disease and then we fight back. We organize and we fundraise to find other ways we can fight cancer.”

Sayre has had breast cancer twice in her lifetime. Many are oblivious to the fact that some of us can get it. Sayre didn’t ever think that having cancer would be something she had to go through. She, her family and friends were shocked about the horrifying news because no one had previously had it in the family.

While Sayre had to go through radiation treatment and medication, she was surprised at how many people helped her stay strong through it all. She had strangers rooting for her to fight the whole time.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has a hot-line called Patient Services, used for newly diagnosed patients going through cancer. Half a million people a year call to discover different kinds of help.

In fact, there is a way for students to help. Log on to relayforlife.com this week to submit your team. There is no required number of people who can be on a team, but keep in mind that the goal is to raise money. The more people on a team, the easier it is to raise money. All monetary donations stay in the local area because ACS has already researched projects here in Chicago that we fund.

From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., on May 16, RFL will be hosting the last ever event on Elk Grove’s current football field and track.