Trusted Choice^® to Serve as Statewide Sponsor for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life

(Columbia, S.C.) – The American Cancer Society has announced a partnership with Trusted Choice^® to help support the fight against cancer in South Carolina by becoming a statewide sponsor of Relay For Life®. Cancer touches everyone, and involvement in Relay For Life is a great way for Trusted Choice^® to demonstrate their commitment to help the American Cancer Society save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

            The world’s largest grassroots fundraising movement, Relay For Life mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and provide participants with an opportunity to fight back against the disease.

            Relay For Life events are held overnight as individuals and teams camp out at an athletic track, park or other gathering area, with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times throughout the evening. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during Relay. Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups . . . people from all walks of life – all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, by helping them get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.

 “Here in South Carolina, funds raised by our Relay For Life events are making an impact on so many lives, said Jay Taylor, the South Carolina chairman for Trusted Choice®.  “Trusted Choice® insurance agencies are located in the same South Carolina communities where Relay For Life events will be held so becoming a statewide sponsor is just a great opportunity for our many South Carolina members.”

From making possible the vital American Cancer Society programs and services that support those in our community facing a diagnosis, to life-changing cancer research and medical discovery, to advocacy for access to quality health care for everyone affected by cancer, the money raised through Relay For Life in South Carolina is helping further the vision of a world with less cancer and more birthdays.”

For more information about how Relay For Life benefits the local community, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345, or visit RelayForLife.org.

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. 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 communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Trusted Choice^® agencies are insurance and financial services firms.  They represent multiple insurance companies, offering individuals and business owners a variety of coverage choices, customized insurance plans to meet specialized needs as well as advocacy support.  These firms adhere to a pledge of performance, committing them to providing excellent customer service.  Go to www.TrustedChoice.com and click on “Find a Trusted Choice^® Agent” on the homepage to locate the right agency for your needs.

Although every Relay For Life is different, there are certain traditions at all Relays, no matter where they are held. These traditions help participants celebrate, remember, and fight back.

Celebrate – The Survivors Lap
Relay starts with a Survivors Lap an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we’ve achieved over cancer. The Survivors Lap is an emotional example of how Relay participants are creating a world with more birthdays like those of each individual on the track.

Remember – The Luminaria Ceremony
After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence.

Fight Back – The Fight Back Ceremony
Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.

No matter where you are, there’s a place for you at Relay and you can make a difference today by getting involved with your local Relay For Life event.

Thanks to Relay participants, we are creating a world with more birthdays a world where cancer can’t claim another year of anyone’s life.

During National Volunteer Week, we want to personally thank you for helping lead the fight against cancer. Because of your volunteer efforts, the American Cancer Society saves lives and creates a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together, we are making a difference. 

Volunteers have always been the cornerstone of the American Cancer Society. As the world’s largest voluntary health organization, the Society simply would not exist without dedicated and talented people working together in communities throughout the United States. Since it was created in 1913, the Society has depended on volunteers to advance progress in the fight against cancer, and today that is no different. The Society is able to continue its great work to eliminate cancer as a major health problem only because of the service and leadership of committed volunteers like yourself who passionately believe in the hope for a cancer-free future.

 Without our cadre of volunteers, cancer might still be a mysterious killer and cancer patients might still be facing impossible odds. Instead, there is more hope today than ever before for people facing cancer and their families. And it is the collective power of more than three million friends and volunteers working to fight cancer on all fronts that keeps that hope alive and growing.

From holding Relay For Life^® events in over 5,000 communities, to providing free transportation to cancer patients in treatment, to working with lawmakers to make cancer a national and local priority, Society volunteers are fundamental to the progress we are making to reach our 2015 goals of reducing cancer incidence and death, as well as eliminating suffering and improving quality of life. And it is your support that enables the Society to offer information, day-to-day help, and emotional support to people facing cancer and their families, when and where they need it.

So, thank you for all that you do and we hope that you remember how special a simple thing like a birthday can be.  It’s a celebration of life, a marker of progress toward our goal that is made possible by YOU!

Jamie Lamar is still celebrating her birthday thanks to her diligence in getting her annual mammogram. Jamie, of Greenville, S.C., was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy and no other treatment – because it was caught early.

So this year, as she was preparing her luminaria bags for her local Relay For Life, she thought about the American Cancer Society’s birthday campaign. “I had just celebrated a birthday and thought about the cards people had sent to me,” Jamie shares. “I save them from year to year to reflect back on them.”

She asked her daughter, Lynn, to use them to decorate three bags – one in honor of Jamie, one in memory of Jamie’s Dad, and one in memory of Jamie’s sister. “I wanted to use the cards for the memory bags because we’re still celebrating their lives,” Jamie adds.

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The American Cancer Society funds researchers early in their careers – 44 of whom have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

The American Cancer Society funded more than $130 million in cancer research this year, more than $3.8 billion since 1946.

The American Cancer Society tracks lifestyle and behaviors of 1.2 million volunteers to study risk factors associated with cancer.

The American Cancer Society established the link between cancer and smoking.

The American Cancer Society focuses part of its funds on specific needs, such as cancer in the poor and underserved.

Dramatically increased the cure rate for most childhood leukemias to more than 80%.
 

Through Tell A Friend, volunteers reach out to the women in their lives to spread the lifesaving message of receiving regular mammograms.

By dialing 1.800.ACS.2345 you can receive answers to your questions about cancer and referrals to local resources.

Tobacco users can call the free Quitline at 1.877.YES.QUIT for help in learning how to become tobacco free.

I Can Cope is a free educational program providing information about cancer diagnosis and treatment to help participants cope with physical and emotional challenges.

By visiting www.cancer.org, you can receive answers to your questions about cancer and referrals to local resources.

The third Thursday of November is the Great American Smokeout, which shares information on the dangers of tobacco use.
 

Increased federal funding to allow low-income women access to breast and cervical cancer screenings.

Doubled the funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute to allow an increase in cancer research.

Assured that all individuals covered under Medicare receive access to the most current clinical trials.

Created the American Cancer Society Action Network on a federal level to increase advocacy efforts related to fighting cancer.

Clinical trial insurance coverage is now available in 17 states, up from 2 states four years ago.

Restricted youth access to tobacco.

Reduced deaths and illnesses by advocating for stronger smoking ordinances and state laws to protect employees and the public from tobacco smoke.
 

Hope Lodges provide free lodging to cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Camps for Kids are run throughout the country to help kids with cancer.

Road to Recovery offers rides to patients to their lifesaving treatments.

Look Good Feel Better sessions help women through the physical changes resulting from chemotherapy.

Man to Man provides information and support for men affected by prostate cancer.

The Cancer Survivors Network offers a comprehensive selection of stories and discussions among survivors and caregivers on a variety of topics. You can access the CSN online or by calling 1.877.333.HOPE (4673)

The Reach to Recovery program is a one-to-one visitation between newly diagnosed women with breast cancer and women who have already gone through treatment.

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Relay For Life – Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

 Relay For Life – Team Recruitment

Vintage Relay For Life Terry Zahn Video