Cassidy Park hosting cancer-fighting Relay for Life Saturday
Published 8:47 am Friday, May 1, 2015
The 2015 American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Washington Parish is scheduled for Saturday at Cassidy Park in Bogalusa.
The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. A cancer survivor celebration is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the luminary and remembrance ceremony is at 8 p.m.
Community Manager for Relay for Life for St. Tammany and Washington parishes, Nicole Maddox Smith, said she expects more than 500 people to attend the event.
“What makes the race so fun for me is that each event is unique to its community,” Smith said. “All of the events have survivor celebration. I think it is so neat to see how people have put beating cancer as their priority.”
Twenty teams and 119 participants are scheduled to take part during Saturday’s event. Those teams have held fundraisers through the year. As of Thursday afternoon, a little more than $12,660 has been raised. Participants receive pledges for each lap they complete to raise funds.
Smith said funds raised from the event go for cancer research at Tulane University and LSU-Shreveport, along with support programs. One of those support programs is Hope Lodge in New Orleans, where patients stay while they undergo treatment. There are a number of Hope Lodges around the country.
Activities around Saturday’s Relay include children’s games and live entertainment. There will be food booths available, and T-shirts will be sold.