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Relay For Life Kicks Off, Aims to Kick Cancer

by KREX News Room
by Cori Coffin

Story Created: Jun 15, 2012 at 10:47 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jun 18, 2012 at 10:18 AM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Community businesses and residents pounded the pavement for Relay for Life on Friday and Saturday. Their goal was to kick cancer to the curb.

"We're walking for Vonna May Ruth," said one group of people.

"I'm walking for my dad, my mother and my sister," said another woman.

"I'm here celebrating my dad," added a young girl.

They are all aiming to stomp out cancer.

In the mid-1980s, Dr. Gordy Platt wanted to know what it felt like for his patients to go through chemotherapy. He ran for 24 hours straight. "And it turned into this huge worldwide phenomenon," said Wendy Likes, publicity chair for Grand Junction Relay for Life.

Every year, the Grand Valley continues Relay for Life's tradition at Long's Family Memorial Park. "We have over 100 teams this year," said Likes.

Likes said this year the organization is on track to go well over their $200,000 goal. "I've been doing this for seven years and it took my breath away this year."

St. Mary's Hospital estimates that more than 100 patients are admitted for cancer treatment every month.

This event is not just to fight for the living. "We remember the people we've lost and we fight back," added Likes.

They fight back for the hope of tomorrow.

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