By Staff
The word community has many meanings. We use it to convey an actual physical boundary to include the houses, schools, businesses and churches within a set area included in the name of a city, village or township.
The meaning of community often expands when an event brings people together, even though they are living in another town, or even across the country in another state.
Unfortunately, a tragic event is too often the cause of bringing a sense of community.
Across the country people shared grief with the families of all those who lost their lives needlessly in Virginia last week, following the shootings at Virginia Tech.
Throughout the nation, many college campuses held memorial services to remember those who died.
Community can also be a word to describe a group who is working toward a common goal.
Each year people join together to work toward the goal of finding a cure for cancer.
Money raised through various fundraising events, goes into research.
The Relay for Life community isn't limited by age or location.
Like cancer itself, which can strike the young or old, everyone can participate in the fight to seek an end to its many forms.
From bake and garage sales, to the main 24-hour event, Relay for Life has a common goal.
Groups of friends or fellow workers, who join together in this cause, set their own monetary goals and plan ways to raise that money. These smaller groups join the larger community in its larger goal.
Last Friday, the Virginia Tech family decided to still hold its planned Relay for Life event, to celebrate those survivors, remember those who have died and work toward a cure.
Theirs was just one of the 4,800 communities who join in this work.
More than 3.5 million Americans take part in Relay for Life.
Don't be left out of this valuable component in the fight against cancer. If your work doesn't have a group who are participating, maybe you can become the leader and start one.
A group of friends with whom you bowl, or get together to knit or make scrapbooks make like to participate.
Maybe no one ever took the time to organize a Relay for Life team.
Cancer strikes us all. Hardly a family doesn't know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Get involved and join the Relay for Life. Find out what you can do.
The first area event will be on May 18, in Cass County at the fairgrounds. For more information, e-mail: abby.neil@cancer.org.
The Berrien County event will be at its fairgrounds in Berrien Springs on June 23.
The annual Niles-Buchanan Relay for Life will be at Niles High School on July 14.
Contact: shelli.knoll@cancer.org for information on how to form or join a team.