The “Team Excellence” award is presented to teams that raise at least $10,000 and an average of at least $100 per participant.

The Rack Pack Relay for Life team has set a goal this year to surpass last year. The goal this year is to raise $20,000. They are well on their way to meeting that goal.

Kelsey and her co-captain Danielle Taylor work hard on the fundraising ideas for the team. They do everything from selling candles to painting parties.

Both girls have personal stories behind their fight to help end cancer. They both lost their mothers to cancer. They work hard along with their team members to raise funds to help with research, so other people don’t have to hear those dreaded words, “Your loved one has cancer.”

The Relay began in 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Wash., ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease.

Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the U.S., along with additional communities in 20 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Thanks to Relay participants, the American Cancer Society continues to save lives.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

Cass County Relay for Life this year is being held at 10 a.m. May 17 until 10 a.m. the next day, at the Dowagiac High School APEX track. Plan on stopping by and seeing what Relay is all about, and meet Kelsey and Danielle.

Our community should be proud that we have great young people that are willing to work so hard for something they believe in.

For more information about Cass County Relay For Life, please contact Terri Schmidt, Chair, at 269-462-5346 or tt73schmidt@yahoo.com.