Luminaries available for Relay for Life event

The annual Relay for Life, benefitting the American Cancer Society, will be held Aug. 12-13 downtown in conjunction with the Second Friday ArtStroll. This year’s theme is Paint Your World Purple. A caregiver and survivor dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12 near Bicentennial Park

Relay for Life Event Leader Jessica Slagle said the Relay for Life does great things for the community.

“The American Cancer Society provides programs to everyone who is struggling with cancer, whether it’s diagnosis, after-care and support,” she said. “They provide a lot of opportunities to help people as far as gas cards for rides to treatments and a phone number to where if you feel like you’re struggling, there’s always going to be someone on the other end that will reassure you that it’s going to be OK.”

For a small community like Thermopolis, Slagle said there have been a lot of people who have had cancer or been diagnosed.

“Our goal as the American Cancer Society is to fund for research to help find a cure, and every year we get a little closer,” she said. “One day we want to live cancer-free.”

Slagle said the Relay for Life is just about walking because cancer does not rest.

“The mission is to keep moving because cancer doesn’t sleep,” she said. “We encourage the whole community to come down.”

Slagle said she does not know anyone who has not been touched by cancer, whether it is a family member, a friend or a family friend.

“Cancer touches everyone and we want to celebrate their birthdays,” she said. “Relay for Life is a great way to honor the memory of a loved one and it is also a great way to celebrate a survivor.”

Luminaries are available for $5 each or three for $10. Call Jessica Slagle at 921-9765 for more information or to purchase a luminary. Forms are also available at the Chamber office. Caregivers and survivors can register by calling Berta Hurley at 921-0328.