RUTLAND, Vt. (WCAX) – The annual Relay for Life kicked off at the Rutland Fairgrounds this afternoon.
It’s a fundraiser put on by the American Cancer Society.
In the 35 years the event has been held in Rutland, they’ve raised 4.5 million dollars for cancer research and support – making it one of the biggest in New England.
The first ceremonial lap is with family, friends, caregivers and survivors. This year has 320 participants with 68 teams. Organizers say it also a celebration of life.
“We’re here about the survivors and the caregivers, it’s their day, we do all of this, to celebrate them, their fight, and unfortunately some of them have lost that fight, but we still honor them,” Kay Corio from the American Cancer Society said.
“When I hear someone going through this right now, I say, you got to keep hope. You got to keep hope, you got to keep moving. You got to do what you can. Don’t give up,” Breast Cancer survivor Angie Rivers said.
The goal is to have someone from each team be on the track for the duration of the 18 hour event. The American Cancer Society hope to raise 165 thousand dollars this year.