Relay for Life Expected to be Bigger Than Ever

Ready to join your neighbors in the fight against cancer? Relay For Life of New Tampa is taking place May 17, and there’s still time to participate in what is shaping up to be the biggest event in the community’s Relay history.

“We have more teams and more people signed up than we ever have,” said Tom Gruber, who is co-chairing the event with Lesley Zajac. “This promises to be one of the biggest events ever in New Tampa, so we’re excited about that.”

The community has 698 participants and 57 teams so far, according to the event website. Together, they’ve already raised more than $50,000.

The 18-hour Relay for Life of New Tampa takes place at Freedom High School. It begins May 17 at 6 p.m. with a survivor lap and ends May 18 at noon.

Relay for Life events take place annually across the country. Each one sees cancer survivors, family and friends organizing teams to fight cancer one step at a time. Team members take turns running or walking around a track, and each team must always have at least one member participating throughout the night.

Teams have tents or booths set up along the track and offer food or services to further raise money for the American Cancer Society’s cause. And you don’t have to be a participant to attend or partake in the festivities.

At 9 p.m., there will be a luminaria ceremony. During the observance, sand-mounted candles in small paper bags are lighted in honor of family members and friends lost to cancer.

“It’s kind of a solemn moment when we reflect and think back on the people who didn’t make it in the fight against cancer,” Gruber said. “It’s very emotional.”

Gruber will likely be thinking about is father, who had liver cancer. Doctors didn’t realize the cancer was present until two weeks before he died, Gruber said.

That’s how Gruber got into Relay for Life in the first place.

“It’s just to honor him,” he said.

To participate, visit the Relay for Life of New Tampa website to join a team, or just show up on the night of the event and organizers will find a team for you.

Get local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast, sign-up here.

See also:

• Relay For Life of New Tampa
• New Tampa Relay for Life Kicks Off Friday (2012)