The race is on for a cure

What two things do the American Cancer Society Relay For Life and NASCAR have in common?

Both have grassroots beginnings; honor cancer survivors and those lost to cancer.

For the first time in Wharton County, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and NASCAR will be brought together on Saturday, May 17 in Hungerford at the Hungerford Community Hall.

The "Race Day For Relay" will allow everyone to watch the NASCAR Sprint All Star Race, sample some great barbecue, purchase food and drink, play games for both children and adults and learn more about the American Cancer Society programs, services they offer in the Wharton County area along with information on their signature activity, Relay For Life.

"Since many NASCAR fans in our community cannot make the five and a half hour trip to Fort Worth's Texas Motor Speedway to experience first hand NASCAR at its finest for the April and November races, we are bringing NASCAR to you," Nicole Stavena said.

Race Day For Relay will start at 11 a.m. Admission is free. The NASCAR Sprint All Star Race starts at 7 p.m.

The barbecue cook-off will feature campsites with the NASCAR and Relay For Life themes. The judges for the barbecue cook-off will be cancer survivors and medical professional who work with cancer patients as well as representatives from the American Cancer Society.

This will be Wharton County's officially recognized NASCAR event. Sponsorship opportunities will be available to local businesses for $50 which will allow their company banners to be hung on the walls interspersed with the different banners from the American Cancer Society Relay For Life and NASCAR.

Relay teams will have booths set up in the hall to raise funds for the upcoming Relay in October. They will be competing in three categories: best decorated booth incorporating NASCAR and Relay For Life, most donations raised for the day and most creative fundraiser.

Information booths for each service and program the ACS offers in our county will be alongside the Relay Teams' booths. ACS support booths will be:

• Reach to Recovery - Peer support for breast cancer patients by breast cancer survivors.

• Road to Recovery - Free transportation for cancer patients to and from their treatments.

• Wigs/Prosthesis - Free wigs and breast prosthesis are available. Wigs are available to everyone who is loosing their hair due to the cancer treatments not just for breast cancer patients.

• Durable Medical Equipment - Free medical equipment for cancer patients - walker, wheelchair and portable pottie, etc.

• 24/7 Toll Free Support - Information on how to access the American Cancer Society at anytime of the day or night. The toll free number is staffed with individuals and not just an automated system.

The American Cancer Society is the only non-profit organization offering 24 hours/7days a week/365 day year service staffed with live individuals.

These are just a few of the services that are offered by the American Cancer Society free to the public. For individuals who do not reside in Wharton County, contact information will be available.

"A very special ceremony will take place before the race starts," Stavena said. "The victory/ memory lane ceremony will have a NASCAR flair. A miniature race track will be on display with race cars lining the track as if in a race. The race cars will represent those individuals who are currently battling cancer. In the middle of the track is our victory lane."

Trophies will represent individuals who are in remission or cancer free. There will be a backdrop of a race stadium at night.

"In the darkness of the sky, glow-in-the-dark stars will represent loved ones lost to cancer or those who battled cancer at a point in their life but are no longer with us," she said. NASCAR legend and cancer survivor Richard Petty will have a mini trophy dedicated to him. The late Benny Parsons and the late Bobby Hamilton will have stars dedicated to them.

All of the fundraising and activities will end just prior to the victory/memory lane ceremony.

All proceeds raised from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society and will go towards the 10th Annual Relay For Life of Wharton County's event in October. Last year, the 9th Annual Relay For Life of Wharton County grossed more than $121,000.

"The American Cancer Society has so much to offer everyone who has been affected by cancer whether they are a cancer patient, caregiver or someone just needing information," Stavena said. "Our goal is to bring everyone in Wharton County together to help with our fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society so our future generations will not have to hear you have cancer."

To view pictures from the 2007 Relay For Life of Wharton County go to:. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=LexgWXHGapo.

For more information, contact Nicole Stavena, relayforlife@jwnet.net or (979) 578-9282 or Angela Janak, txblond_e@hotmail.com.

Stavena is the online chairwoman for Relay For Life of Wharton County and Lavaca County and serves as a board member of Wharton County American Cancer Society unit and the Road to Recovery coordinator. She is event co-founder for the Race Day For Relay.