2013 Northern Wake Relay For Life Event Set for May 17-18

2013 Northern Wake Relay For Life Event Set for May 17-18

Co-Chairs Tommy Killebrew and Roger Scott’s personal connections to the 2013 event

(Wake Forest, N.C., October 2, 2012) –Walkers, cancer Survivors, caregivers, community leaders and others interested in raising cancer awareness are planning to come together May 17-18, 2013 for the next Northern Wake Relay For Life event. The date was announced by the Northern Wake Relay For Life Planning Committee co-chaired by Tommy Killebrew and Roger Scott. Location and times will be forthcoming.

The kick-off meeting for team captains, participants, volunteers and anyone interested in more information on the event is 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27, in the Mill Room at The Factory, 1839 South Main Street, Wake Forest. Everyone in attendance will be entered into a drawing for a chance to receive several prizes and food will also be provided. As the event nears, planning meetings will be held once a month.

Killebrew and Scott have been involved in Relay for Life for almost 10 years and next year’s event will have a very personal meaning for both of them, particularly for Scott.

Scott first volunteered for Relay For Life in 2003 as the logistics chair, a position he held during the first six years of his involvement with the event. Killebrew first participated in 2005, and was eventually recruited by Scott to assist him in making sure the event ran smoothly. By 2010, Scott convinced Killebrew to take over as the logistics chair. This year Scott will serve alongside Killebrew as a co-chair for the 2013 event.

Scott and Killebrew are strong supporters of Relay For Life and friends of 15 years. They each describe the other’s leadership style as complementary to their own and have been nothing less of supportive to each other since Scott was diagnosed with stage one bladder cancer this year in July.

The American Cancer Society, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, estimates there will be 73,510 new cases of bladder cancer in the United States in 2012. Thankfully, Scott’s cancer was detected early and his tumors have been surgically removed. He is undergoing bladder wash treatments once a week for six weeks with a urologist. A bladder wash injects tuberculosis bacteria that over stimulate the immune system and cause the immune system to attack the injected bacteria, as well as remaining cancer cells in the bladder. Scott will undergo this treatment three times.

“I had already committed to co-chair for 2013 prior to being diagnosed with cancer. I am very pleased with my prognosis and pray that the treatments will be successful, as they are in most bladder cancer victims with my profile,” Scott said. “As long as I am able, I will continue to support Relay For Life so that others may be as fortunate as I have already been.”

He added that his focus on Relay For Life has been sharpened by his diagnosis and reinforces why he participates – to raise funds for cancer research.

“Roger is fighting the disease with all the science and determination that can be mustered. He always keeps a positive attitude and refuses to let cancer slow him down,” Killebrew said.

“I ask everyone who has a loved one fighting cancer, lost a loved one to the disease or knows someone who has been affected by cancer to spend one evening with us at Northern Wake Relay For Life in May next year. You will be touched by everyone’s enthusiasm and fulfilled by your efforts and success in helping to eliminate cancer.”

Additional information about the 2013 Northern Wake Relay For Life event can be found at www.northernwakerelay.comand www.facebook.com/NorthernWakeRelay.

About Northern Wake Relay For Life

Because cancer never sleeps, Relay For Life is an overnight event. It brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups and communities to celebrate the lives of cancer Survivors, remember those we have lost and commit to fighting back against the disease. Volunteers from Northern Wake County, including the towns of North Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest and Youngsville, participate as team captains and team members for the event. www.northernwakerelay.com

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, and with programs in more than 20 countries, we fight for every birthday threatened by cancer in communities worldwide. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; by helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying people across the globe to join the fight. As a global leader in cancer research investment, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. To learn more or to get help, and for more information on our global programs, visit www.cancer.org/globalor www.global.cancer.org.

PHOTO: (high resolution) www.CommunicopiaPR.com/client/RelayForLife

Photo cutline: Tommy Killebrew (left) and Roger Scott are serving as co-chairmen for the Northern Wake Relay For Life event being held May 17-18, 2013. The American Cancer Society is celebrating its 100th year in its fight against the disease.