Seven volunteers from the St. Mary’s County, Relay For Life recently attended the American Cancer Society’s 2008 Relay University in Falls Church, Va. Volunteers Janet Shlegle, Kristy Anderson, Susan Dudley, Debbie Lehtonen, Abby Seamans (2009 Event Chair), Sue Lyddon-Hayes, and Georgette Gaskin accepted the Per Capita Award on behalf of St. Mary’s County.

The 2008 Per Capita award was $2.17, raised per citizen of St. Mary’s County – an increase of $0.14 per capita over 2007. The 2008 event netted over $216,000 for cancer services, programs, and research. The St. Mary’s event has shown steady growth since 2006: St. Mary’s RFL: 2006, 2007, 2008- Net $ Donated: $153,389; $199,857; $216,145; No. of Teams: 48; 54; 81 No. of Participants: 675; 824; 1372; School Teams: 12; 23; 36.

The two-day conference recognized achievement for outstanding 2008 Relay For Life events and offered participants tools and information to increase the success of their events. Breakout sessions and regional rallies helped volunteers learn new ideas. In addition, volunteers learned the importance of integrating the Society’s mission through Relay For Life.

Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship. The funds raised from the events support the American Cancer Society’s mission to eliminate cancer through research, prevention, and early detection programs. Teams consist of individuals representing businesses, churches, schools, Navy and Marine Corps activities, neighborhoods, families and other community groups.

Relay For Life is not only a fundraiser; it also brings awareness to the community about the advances in cancer research, prevention and detection. Because of the event steady growth, St. Mary’s County was also selected to be a 2009 registration site for Cancer Prevention Study 3.

The American Cancer Society research study seeks participants 30 to 65-years-old who have never had cancer to commit to being tracked for 20 years. A brief history and questionnaire, blood samples, and measurements will be completed at the time of sign-up at the Relay For Life. Participants will then be sent an annual questionnaire to learn more about why they do not have cancer.

CPS-1 was the first cancer prevention study undertaken in the 1960s that produced the information that related lung cancer with smoking. The CPS-2 studied the benefit of diet and exercise in cancer prevention. Cathy Fenwick of St. Mary’s Hospital is the CPS-3 Chair for St. Mary’s County.

Kickoff for the 2009 Relay For Life of St. Mary’s County will be held on January 13, 2009 at the College of Southern Maryland in Leonardtown.

For more information about cancer or about Relay For Life of St. Mary’s County, contact stmarysrelay@gmail.com, or visit our web site at www.stmarysrelay.org .