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community focus Volunteers planning new Relay For Life events display teamwork and passion For some communities, Relay For Life is a longstanding tradition and a familiar part of summer. For 27 others, this year will be their first experience with the Society's 24 hour event that raises awareness and dollars to fight cancer, bringing the total number of Relay For Life events to 301 in the Great Lakes Division. Three such communities are Greenwood, Carmel, and Brownsburg, Indiana. While starting a major event from the ground up may seem like an overwhelming challenge, community members organizing start-up Relays have a strong sense of teamwork and pride. Some community members became Relay For Life volunteers by being approached by the Society, others came to the Society with or without Relay experience of their own. No matter how they come on board, volunteers are the heart and soul of any Relay. "It wouldn't be possible without them," says Andrea Mills, a community development director for the Society's Central Indiana Area Service Center.  One of Andrea's new volunteers is Dianna Brooks (shown right), who is serving as the sponsorship chair for the new Greenwood Relay in Johnson County. "I've had to do some educating because a lot of people in the area don't know what Relay is," she says. Dianna was touched by cancer through her friends and her father, who is a three-time cancer survivor and has been involved with Relay. Her experience of starting a new event has been "very rewarding," she says. "When I get on a roll talking with someone about Relay, there's not enough time for me to get it all out."
In addition to her enthusiastic work on the committee, Dianna has felt a lot of support from Andrea. "She has just been awesome to work with and our Relay would not be as successful as it's going to be without her leadership," says Dianna. 
Another new Relay in central Indiana will be the Carmel event in Hamilton County, led by Julie Criswell (shown left). She has been on different Relay committees for the past six years and can't speak enough about the great work her committee has put forth to make their Relay possible.
"If anyone can come out to Relay, even just for an hour, you realize what all the time and money and research goes to--and that is to find a cure for cancer," she explains. "If you can be there...to meet one survivor or a family with cancer, then that will be with you the rest of your life; it will empower you to do something better." Meanwhile, in Hendricks County, Lori Morrison is a volunteer preparing for the new Brownsburg event. She was involved with Relay in the past, but never on a planning committee, and is excited to see how much the community has embraced the idea of having their own Relay. "We're doing this together," says Lori. She is sharing her position on the committee with a more experienced volunteer, Deb Kersteff, and has also met with volunteers from surrounding Relay events to get ideas and advice. Lori understands both the need for raising dollars and awareness for cancer, two of the things Relay helps to accomplish. "The only way to defeat [cancer] is to have better research so we can get better drugs, but also to educate people about things we do in our lives to cause it." Lori lost her husband, grandmother, and sixteen year old son to cancer. Her new Relay committee is dedicated to the cause. "They want to see cancer destroyed," she says. Dianna, Julie, and Lori are excited to introduce Relay For Life into their communities. To visit these three events call the Central Indiana Area Service Center at 317-347-6670 for locations and details:
If you are thinking of helping to start a new Relay in your area, know that you are not alone. You can be part of a committee, work with a Society staff person, and visit established Relay committees from surrounding areas for advice. Many people who have been involved with Relay For Life say that it is one of the best experiences of their life. If you want to become a volunteer to plan a Relay For Life event in your area, call 1-800-ACS-2345. Other articles in VOICES this month survivorship and patient services: young cancer survivors are invited to our fun-filled, annual summer camp |
survivorship and patient services: Relay For Life celebrates and supports survivors in your community |
research: people with personal cancer experiences help determine funding for Society research |
education: all women over 40 need mammograms, a government funded program may help with cost |
advocacy: meet Sharon Simmons, a survivor joining the Society's efforts in Washington DC |
advocacy: sign the 2015 petition, make your voice heard in Washington DC |
local area spotlight: Society staff partner with health organizations |
resource highlight: sign up now for action alerts to monitor cancer issues |
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