GREENFIELD — The American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser has garnered more than $58,000 so far from Hancock County donors ahead of the Relay for Life slated for this weekend.
Hancock County’s 21 Relay fundraising teams are hoping to top $70,000 in donations by Aug. 31. Julie McKinley, the local Relay event lead, said the county raised $68,000 last year.
Friday night into Saturday morning, Relay for Life will celebrate those fundraising efforts while recognizing those who have battled, are battling and who have lost their battles to cancer.
McKinley has been involved with Relay for Life for six years. She had a childhood friend who died from a brain tumor and has family members, friends and coworkers affected by the far-reaching disease.
“It seems like every day there’s somebody else diagnosed,” she said.
The American Cancer Society estimates 35,280 new cancer cases in Indiana for 2019. About 13,690 cancer deaths are expected for this year.
The event at Greenfield Central Jr. High School this weekend offers 15 hours of activities. Many of them are laps around the school’s track with various themes, including superhero, different decades of the 1900s and crazy wigs. There will also be opening ceremonies, dinner, a silent auction and luminaria ceremony. The event will end at the start of a new day with breakfast and awards.
At the top of Relay for Life of Hancock County’s fundraising list is Cancer CUREsaders, which McKinley also leads. As of early Wednesday, the team had more than 130 members and had raised more than $17,000.
McKinley said the team finds many ways to collect money, from monthly euchre tournaments to the two major fundraisers it hosts at the county fairgrounds each year.
Her relatives are committed to the cause as well.
“Everything with our family is Relay,” McKinley said.
For those who are interested in attending the Relay for Life event this weekend, more information is available at main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=92025 or by calling McKinley at 317-407-3710.
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WHAT: Relay for Life of Hancock County
WHEN: 4 p.m. Friday, June 7 to 7 a.m. Saturday, June 8
WHERE: Greenfield-Central Jr. High School, 1440 N. Franklin St.
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