Over 70 local residents attended the March 11 kickoff rally for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life at Farmingdale State University. The event is scheduled for this summer and plans are already under way. The university will be the host of the relay for the first time this year. Relay For Life is an overnight celebration of hope, progress and answers held in honor and celebration of millions of Americans who have survived cancer, to remember those who lost their lives to cancer and to raise funds to fight the disease.

The kickoff rally featured debut of the "Relay For Life" cheer, written and performed by the Farmingdale Hawks eighth-grade cheerleaders who attend Howitt Middle School. Ann McDermott, of OSI Pharmaceuticals, chairperson of Farmingdale's Relay For Life event, spoke of her excitement that Farmingdale is the latest community to take up the fight against cancer and Farmingdale State University president, Jonathan Gibralter, Ph.D., told the crowd how honored he is to host the event. Farmingdale resident Tommie Michalik, an American Cancer Society volunteer and breast cancer survivor described how Relay For Life celebrates survivorship.

The Relay For Life, scheduled for June 13 to 14, is made up of teams of five or more individuals. Team members can be friends, co-workers, groups from religious organizations, clubs and families. Students are invited to participate as well, but youth teams require an adult chaperone throughout the event. The teams each designate a captain to gather information and act as a liaison to the American Cancer Society. Each team will attempt to keep one member walking the track at all times throughout the night, so more team members will make it easier on the whole team. Teams raise funds to help battle cancer by soliciting donations and selling items for the Luminary Ceremony, such as candles, etc. For those who cannot put a team together, one will be coordinated by the Society.

The Luminary Ceremony is one of the highlights of the Relay For Life, where hundreds of bags with the names of those who have battled cancer are placed around the track. At nightfall, the candles in the bags are lighted, creating a glowing tribute to those lost and hope for those who are currently battling the disease, as well as those who have fought it in the past.

Even if they were unable to attend the March 11 kickoff, local residents can still participate in the relay. The Relay For Life takes place regardless of weather conditions, just as the fight for cancer goes on. In the case of severe weather conditions, arrangements will be made to temporarily move indoors.

Upcoming dates for the Farmingdale Relay For Life include Wednesday: April 9, May 14 and June 4. These are team captain meetings which are open to anyone interested in organizing a team or participating. The meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on each of those dates at Roosevelt Hall at Farmingdale State University. The actual relay will begin at 6 p.m. on June 13 at the campus' Great Lawn.

To help plan the event as a committee member, participate as a team captain, or join a team to be part of this community event, either in Farmingdale (or one of 12 other Relay For Life events being planned across Long Island this spring and summer), contact the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org. All of the money raised supports the American Cancer Society's research, education, advocacy and patient and family services.