OMHC's Relay for Life team walks in Wilbur May 11-12

Staff members at Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center have banded together to form a team that will participate in the Lincoln County Relay for Life Walk scheduled for May 11 and 12 at Emerson Park in Wilbur. The walk starts at 6 p.m. on May 11 and ends at 9 a.m. on May 12.

Relay for Life is a major fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society and is a community gathering, where anyone can participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at local schools or parks and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative from their team on the track at all times during the event – because cancer never sleeps. Funds raised at this Lincoln County event are used to provide support, resources, testing and treatment for persons in Lincoln County with any type of cancer.

The Relay for Life event provides chances: a chance to celebrate with those who have fought and survived cancer, a chance to remember those who have lost their lives to cancer and a chance to fight back with those who are currently battling cancer. It is the strength and courage of these individuals that is highlighted during this event. The event opens with a lap by cancer survivors who wear the signature purple “Survivor” shirts, followed by a lap of caregivers, family members and friends who provide care and support to those with cancer.

One of the highlights of the event is the luminary ceremony that will be held after dark on May 11. Candles are lit and line the track, and the names of those being celebrated or remembered as survivors, current fighters or those who died from cancer, are read out loud. This is a very memorable and touching service. Luminarias can be purchased for $10 by calling the hospital at 982-2611 and leaving your name and phone number with the front desk so a team member can contact you or just drop off the name and payment at the front desk.

Another fundraiser the team is planning is a car wash on Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of Bank of America. The cost of the carwash is by donation with all funds going to Relay for Life.