LAPLACE – Area cancer survivors will be honored by the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life participants at the ninth annual Relay For Life of St. John Parish, May 6 at 6 p.m. at the Joe Keller Memorial Football Stadium, off Airline Highway

Relay For Life, a 12-hour fund-raiser in which teams of business, industry, government, church, school and other community representatives as well as families, take turns waling around the track and participating in other fun activities.

The Relay will begin at 2 p.m. Cancer survivors are asked to check in at the Cancer Survivor Tent between 5 – 6 p.m to receive a survivor shirt and a special gift.

At 6 p.m. all activities will stop for the Cancer Survivors Ceremony, where a local cancer survivor and caregiver will share their inspirational stories.

Following the speakers, the survivors will be asked to take a lap around the track. Cancer survivors will walk, run or wheelchair their lap of honor as all the participants cheer their victory and/or encouragement.

Additionally the survivors will be asked to join the survivor ceremony sponsor Gold Eagle Security for a down home picnic after they take their lap of honor.

The Survivors Lap sets the stage for the importance of each participant’s contribution to life as well as this event.

&#8220The lap honors all cancer survivors and we encourage anyone who has had a diagnosis of cancer to participate, they can be a survivor for one day, one week or many years” said Bobbie Zaidain, chairperson of the Survivor Ceremony.

Cancer survivor invitations were mailed out last week. If you are a cancer survivor new to the community or you have not received your invitation please call Zaidain at 652-5672.

&#8220Registration is a necessity for the event so we do not miss someone’s name, stated Zaidain.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life allows communities to participate in this important cause by raising funds for cancer research and the development of new prevention and detection programs.

Relay For Life participants help the American Cancer Society continue to provide its expansive patient support programs and further its advocacy efforts.

For more information about Relay For Life in St. John Parish call Bobbie Zaidain at 652-5672 or visit the event website at www.acsevent.org/relay/la/stjohn.

For more information about the American Cancer Society call 1-800-ACS-2345 or access the Web site at www.cancer.org.