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Oak Lawn Students Walking in Relay for Life

Oak Lawn Community High School holds its ninth annual All Youth Relay for Life this Saturday, May 14.

More than 250 Oak Lawn Community High School students are tying their walking shoes.

The students will be walking in the ninth annual All Youth Oak Lawn Relay for Life, starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 14, and continuing to the next morning at the football field at Oak Lawn (9400 Southwest Highway).

Over 50 teams of high school students have signed up, and some have team names that are creative spins on board games. One is called ‘Hungry, Hungry Hippos-We’re Eating Cancer Alive!” and another is “Battleship: We Just Sunk Cancer.”

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Staci Calvert, the director of Relay for Life’s Illinois division, said Relay is an important event.

“Relay started back in 1985,” Calvert said.

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“A colorectal doctor, Dr. Gordy Klatt thought to himself, ‘How can we raise some money for research?’ He decided to walk the track overnight, and get pledges from people. He raised $21,000, and the year after that, it became an annual fundraiser.”

Calvert said education is an important part of Relay, and that the ACS provides information on cancer risks, self exams, and quitting smoking at the Relay events.

Last year, the students raised over $63,000 for the American Cancer Society. In the nine years OLCHS students have participated in Relay, they raised more than half a million dollars.

Students will pitch tents and camp overnight on the football field as their team members take turns walking for 12 hours.

OLCHS assistant principal Joseph McCurdy said the Relay celebration helps the kids become an extra special part of the community.

“The Relay For Life event brings cancer awareness and prevention to the forefront,” McCurdy said.

“It teaches the students about cancer prevention and about working together as a community to support those that are battling cancer.”

There will be three special ceremonies during the evening. The first is the Survivor’s Lap, where anyone who has survived cancer will be invited to walk the track to start the Relay. The second is the Luminaria Ceremony, where students will place candles in paper bags in memory of friends or family who have battled the disease or who have lost their fight. The paper bags will line the track overnight. The third is the Fight Back ceremony, where students will make a personal pledge to fight back against cancer.

Each student had to raise at least $1000 individually to participate. Some students have raised as much as $1,500 singlehandedly; and area organizations have donated as well. According to the American Cancer Society Relay website, donated $1,000 to Relay for Life.

McCurdy said the Relay is a moving, personal experience for the students involved.

“A lot of times, they participate in honor of friends and family members who are fighting the disease or who have lost their lives to cancer.”

For more information on the event, call 708-424-5200, or visit www.olchs.org.

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