Opelika Observer Staff Editorial - 5/6 : Relay makes cancer take a step back

At its onset, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event was meant to be a way to raise awareness about the effects cancer has on our society.
It was meant to highlight cancer survivors and raise money for medical research and programs to help cancer patients continue their fight against the horrible disease.
We think it’s safe to say the battle for ‘awareness’ has been won.
It seems there isn’t a week that goes by that we don’t hear about a fellow citizen, a friend or relative who has been diagnosed with cancer.
More than 1.5 million Americans will be diagnosed with some form of cancer this year. About 15,000 of that 1.5 million will be people under the age of 20.
We are all too aware of cancer’s existence.
While we’ve made significant strides in the identification and treatment of cancer over the last few decades, we are still unable to find the magical cure, the one sure-fire weapon in completely eradicating this horrible disease.
Many of the drugs that have proven successful in helping to fight back against cancer have been drugs whose development and testing were paid for through the American Cancer Society.
Money given here in Lee County and across the nation goes to support further research and development as we continue the quest to find the cure.
Tonight at the Southern Union track, cancer survivors, their families and supportive citizens will gather together for Lee County’s annual Relay for Life event.
Tents will be set up and concessions and crafts will be sold, all helping to raise money for Lee County’s fundraising goal.
Teams will participate in several events and games, bolstering spirits of those in attendance, many of whom will remain at the track all night.
And, of course, throughout the evening, people will walk laps around the track, embodying the ‘relay’ portion of the ‘Relay for Life’ event.
Each step they take will not only be good exercise; it will symbolize the journey cancer survivors and victims took in their journeys.
Each time foot hits pavement, we’re reminded of those who are no longer with us, those brave souls who fought, but were unable to win their battles. Their struggles are remembered and honored; their legacies shall not be forgotten.
Each lap we complete, we honor our local survivors, those who were able to get the treatment and aid they needed to beat cancer. Their stories inspire us and give us hope, a living example of victory over what was, at one time, certain death.
For every mile, we look forward to a future where cancer is a thing of the past, a disease that no longer carries with it despair and the sting of death.
We applaud the continued efforts of Lee County’s Relay for Life committee for the great work they do in this community.
We here at the Observer are proud to support their efforts and we will be on hand tonight, having live updates via our Facebook page during the event.
We strongly encourage you to come out and participate in the event, helping to raise money for a cause that can and does affect each and every one of us.
We’ll be there all night, Opelika.
We hope to see you there, too.