Locals are invited to an afternoon and evening of fun and fundraising to help raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Since the Relay for Life of Marlton began nearly a decade ago, thousands of volunteers have filled the field at Cherokee High School one day every year in late spring, all with the same goal in mind — to raise money in the fight against cancer.
With this year’s Relay for Life of Marlton set for June 3, that goal remains the same.
Whether it’s walking the track, playing games, dancing, selling crafts and food or even just spending time with friends and family, annual Relay for Life events provide those across the globe with a day each year to have fun while also raising money for the American Cancer Society.
Once again this year, local cancer survivors, caregivers to those suffering from cancer and anyone else affected by the disease are invited to join the Marlton Relay for Life and live up to the “Relay” part of the event’s name by doing a small part in the fight against cancer.
Volunteers with Relay for Life of Marlton this year are attempting to raise $120,000 for the American Cancer Society, with volunteers having raised more than $22,000 by the end of April.
This year’s event has already attracted more than 50 teams with about 400 volunteers ready to build their own mini campsites on the field at Cherokee in June.
One such volunteer and returning member of this year’s Marlton Relay leadership committee is Ron “Woody” Woodmansee.
Doctors diagnosed Woodmansee with prostate cancer nearly eight years ago, and about six years ago, he took part in his first Relay for Life event. For the past five years, he’s served on the Marlton Relay’s Leadership Committee.
Woodmansee, whose wife is a breast cancer survivor, described the annual Relay for Life of Marlton as a reminder to those who have faced cancer how lucky they are to have survived.
“It really just forces you to take some time out of your life and realize how lucky you’ve been,” Woodmansee said.
Yet while noting the solemn reasons behind the event, Woodmansee also described the day of the relay as a fundraising “party” rather than a fundraising event.
“You get to see hundreds of people for 12 hours, and while it’s a lot of work for organizers, it’s a lot of fun work. It’s a lot of people coming together to do something really nice,” he said.
Even for those who have never attended a Relay for Life event and who may be unsure about joining a team, Woodmansee invites everyone to at least stop by at some point to see what they’re missing.
“Just spend an hour there and see what goes on — I think most people will be hooked,” Woodmansee said.
The Relay for Life of Marlton is scheduled for Saturday, June 3, from noon to midnight at Cherokee High School.
For more information about the Relay for Life of Marlton, to register for the event or to join a team, visit www.relayforlife.org/marltonnj.
Newspaper Media Group, publisher of The Sun, is a presenting sponsor for this event.
