A popular fundraising event in Brownsburg will change its name this year to re-invigorate and expand its mission and engagement efforts. The Brownsburg Relay for Life will re-name its event to Relay For Life of Hendricks County to welcome additional participants, teams, sponsors and volunteers from throughout the county. The event takes place this year on Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 2-11 p.m. at the Brownsburg East Middle School track, 1250 Airport Rd., Brownsburg.
During the Relay For Life event, community members and teams take turns walking the track, while visitors can walk or visit team fundraising booths with goods, food and games for all ages. The event also includes live local entertainment, a silent auction, and a special lap and dinner for cancer survivors and their caregivers. At the conclusion of the event, paper lanterns are lit in a special luminaria ceremony to remember and honor those family members and friends who are currently fighting or have lost their battle with cancer. Fundraising for the Relay For Life starts in the Fall and continues several weeks after the event’s completion. Last year’s event raised more than $95,000 in the fight against cancer.
The goals for the organization include growing the event to larger than pre-pandemic numbers and participation, as well as hosting fundraising events throughout the county.
Sharon Hammer, event leader and volunteer working with Brownsburg’s school teams, believes that extending the scope of the event to include all of Hendricks County will broaden the base and thus maximize the event’s impact.
“The Relay For Life event has been a staple in Hendricks County for many years, with Relay events taking place in numerous towns throughout the county,” she said. “Unfortunately, Brownsburg is the only community event that has withstood the test of time and is still going strong. Our event leadership team knows that there are many people throughout Hendricks County who are passionate about finding a cure for cancer, and we welcome all who would like to get involved or re-engaged in our event.”
Individuals, businesses or schools interested in creating a Relay For Life of Hendricks County team, sponsoring the event or volunteering in any way, can contact Sharon Hammer at (317) 850-1867 or email shrnhmmr@sbcglobal.net for more information. In addition, the event leaders would also like to connect with individuals and caregivers currently fighting cancer, in order to invite and honor them in a special way at the event.
According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and is responsible for 10 million deaths a year, or about one out of every six deaths. By 2040, the global cancer rate is expected to increase to 30.2 million new cases and 16.3 million deaths annually.
“The mission of the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life is to save lives: every form of cancer and every life,” said Janet Wartman, community event director of the American Cancer Society’s North region. “As a community, we invite all of Hendricks County to join with us to celebrate, remember and fight back to save lives together as one.”
ABOUT RELAY FOR LIFE:
The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all. Relay For Life events are community gatherings where teams and individuals take turns walking or running around a track or path, while participating in booth fundraisers for the American Cancer Society. In the months leading up to the event, individuals and community teams raise funds and awareness for the cause. The Mission of Relay For Life is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. For more information about the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life, visit www.relayforlife.org or www.cancer.org, or visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RelayForLifeHC. To volunteer, support, start a team, perform or donate to the Relay for Life of Hendricks County, please contact local team leader Sharon Hammer at (317) 850-1867 or email shrnhmmr@sbcglobal.net.