Lemont CITGO Employees Raise $2K for Lockport Relay for Life

For the second year in a row, the hit the track at Lockport Township High School's East Campus to raise much-needed funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

CITGO's "Fueling the Fight Against Cancer" team was made up of 30 refinery employees and contractors, and raised $2,200 for Lockport's Relay for Life fundraiser, held from 6 p.m. on Friday, July 20, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 21.

The CITGO team captain was Tracy Rathbun, a contractor at the refinery who is also a three-and-a-half year cancer survivor. Rathbun has pledged to continue to participate in Relay for Life for the rest of her life, according to a press release, and showed her dedication this year by shaving her head during the event.

"This year our team had a blast!," Lemont CITGO Vice President Jim Cristman said in a press release. "We had a really great committee that helped us stay extremely organized, and I cannot wait to see how this success continues into the future. The support of such a large group of CITGO employees and contractors is inspiring."

According to RelayforLife.org, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities across the United States take part in Relay for Life each year to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease. During the event, teams of people camp out at a large community venue and take turns walking around a track or path.

In addition to the relay itself, the night is also full of food, games, and activities to keep everyone up and going until sunrise.

The CITGO Lemont Refinery employs more than 800 local residents on a full-time and contract basis. Each year more than 2,500 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars are given in support of community programs such as Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and a variety of environmental and preservation programs, according to a press release.

For more information on the CITGO Lemont Refinery, visit www.citgorefining.com/Lemont.

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