Christal Lowery said local residents take part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life each year for a variety of reasons.

“Most participants are motivated to participate in relay because of some type of connection to cancer,” said Lowery, lead chairperson for the Henry County Relay. “Some have had family members, close friends that have passed, others have family or friends that are currently fighting cancer. It is their way of ‘giving back,’ and honoring their loved one.”

The Henry County Relay for Life is scheduled for April 28 at Salem Baptist Church, 1724 Ga. Highway 155 from 6-11 p.m. The event will include games to play for a small fee, and food available for purchase.

Approximately 2,000 people will participate in the relay locally, said Lowery. She said the event is designed to support individuals battling all types of cancer.

“We relay to show our support for those that are fighting now and to honor those we have lost,” said Lowery. “For more than 46 years, communities across the world have come together to honor and remember loved ones and take action for lifesaving change.”

The theme for this year’s relay is “Knock Cancer Off the Board.” Tents for each team will be decorated in board game decor, said Lowery.

“The theme is used to unite us in our fight,” she said. “We use the idea behind the theme for fun decorations, games to play, and to try and add a little laughter to the dreadful fight against cancer. Teams make banners to hold during our team lap in support of those that fight and to honor those we have lost.”

Over the last three years, Henry County has raised more than $300,000 to fight cancer. Lowery said local residents have a long tradition of support for the annual Relay.

“Almost 30 years ago, Henry County started Relaying in 1994 at Eagles Landing High School,” she said. “In 1997 it moved to Stockbridge High School. After that Relay jumped around to the different high schools in the county. Relay moved to Salem Baptist Church in 2017, where we have enjoyed celebrating our survivors and honoring those we have lost.”

Last year, the Henry County Relay for Life raised $111,029.32 through sponsorships, fundraising, and donations. This year’s goal, said Lowery, is $125,000.

Proceeds from the Relay will go toward the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, for patients ages 18 and older. Each Hope Lodge, said Lowery, offers patients and their caregivers a free place to stay “when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city.”

“Currently, there are more than 30 Hope Lodge locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico,” said Lowery. “Accommodations and eligibility requirements may vary by location.”

Lowery said she initially got involved with the Relay by volunteering to assist with accounting for the event.

“From there, I began to volunteer and helping in other areas until I found out that numerous family members, close friends and a few of my co-workers had battled, were battling or had lost their battle with cancer,” she said. “This made it personal.”

Lowery began overseeing the Henry County Relay in 2018, along with co-chair Susan Scarborough. Their goal each year, said Lowery, is for survivors and caregivers to “know that they are loved and are not fighting this fight all alone.”

Nan Jenkins of Stockbridge has volunteered with the American Cancer Society since 1989, after losing both of her parents to cancer. She became involved with Relay for Life in 1992 in Virginia, and five years later in Georgia, and has been a bone-marrow cancer survivor for eight years.

“I continue to be involved in Relay because through COVID and everything else, cancer has not stopped,” said Jenkins. “As a matter of fact, many people did not get to go to appointments for mammograms, colonoscopies and other early detection tests during the pandemic.

“However, overall cancer mortality has dropped 33 percent since 1991,” she continued. “We are making a difference. Since my diagnosis, I have lost a nephew and several friends to cancer. That’s why I do it – so no one ever has to hear those words, ‘you have cancer.’ The reason I volunteer with the American Cancer Society is because they support every cancer and every life.”

Relay festivities will include a free dinner on April 25 at Salem Baptist for cancer survivors and their caregivers, added Lowery.

“We had 52 survivors along with their caregivers at last year’s dinner,”
she said. “This year we have 72 survivors that have RSVP’d for the dinner. The dinner is to celebrate those that are fighting, to show them that they are not alone in their fight, and to honor those that have lost the fight. My team and I make sure that each and every one of our survivors leave from our dinner with a gift and a heart full of love knowing that they are supported from the surrounding community.”

Luminaria bags are available at https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=103765. For more information, call Lowery at 678-300-0612.