Relay For Life gives cancer survivors a reason to celebrate Residents join American Cancer Society event to honor survivors, remember those lost A cancer diagnosis is scary, life changing and…a reason to celebrate. Wait … what was that last one? The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life invites folks from across Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties to honor and celebrate the lives of cancer survivors within their community.Overnight events in these counties are just a small number of the more than 4,500 across America held to recognize that cancer doesn't sleep and neither will we until we find the cure. Relay For Life is the largest grassroots fundraiser in the world and gives everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Since the first Relay For Life, held in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash., the event has raised more than $1.8 billion. In 2008, Relay For Life will raise well over $300 million. Relay For Life opens as cancer survivors of all ages walk, run, or otherwise move around the track for the first lap.This emotional time sets the stage for the importance of each participant's contribution. A festive atmosphere always develops around the track area as teams of 10 to 15 people make new friends and spend time with old ones while raising awareness and money to support cancer research, education, advocacy and local patient services. A highlight of the evening is the luminaria service, a candlelight vigil held at nightfall to honor cancer survivors and to remember those lost to cancer.The luminaria candles line the track and are left burning throughout the night as a reminder to participants the importance of their involvement in the Relay For Life event. Event participants are also encouraged to fight back by learning about their own risk of various cancers based on their age, family history and race. They will also have the opportunity to join the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network to help affect legislation regarding cancer such as the Colon and Prostate CancerTreatment Act for New Jersey,which would ensure cancer treatment for those diagnosed with colorectal and prostate cancer through the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection program. This year, this tri-county region is also home to one of the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS-3) registration sites.The study, which will enroll a diverse population of half a million people across the United States,will help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer, and will further efforts to eliminate cancer as a major health concern for future generations. Past studies have played a major role in understanding cancer prevention and risk, and have contributed significantly to the scientific literature and to the development of public health guidelines and recommendations. Those studies confirmed the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, showed that obesity increases the risk of several cancers, and linked aspirin use to a lower death rate from colon cancer. People who are interested in participating in the study should visit the Manahawkin Relay For Life on May 30. Requirements for participation in the study are available at www.cancer.org/cps3. There will be 17 Relays in Middlesex,Monmouth and Ocean counties this year, and some are still to take place, including: New Egypt: May 9-10; New Egypt High School Matawan: May 16-17; Matawan Regional High School Wall: May 16-17; Wall Municipal Complex Holmdel: May 17-18; Vonage in Holmdel Monroe: May 30-31; Eagle River Day Camp Manahawkin: May 30-31; Southern Regional High School Little Silver: May 30-31; Red Bank Regional High School Piscataway: May 31-June 1; Johnson Park Toms River: May 31-June 1; Ocean County College Brick: June 7-8; Brick High School Woodbridge: June 20-21; John F. Kennedy Memorial High School Middletown: June 20-21; Mater Dei High School Freehold: June 21-22; Freehold Raceway Lacey: July 19-20; Richard L. Gille Memorial Park To find out more about Relay For Life in your community, call (800)ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. Interested team captains can build their team and raise funds online at www.cancer.org/relay.