Drop in cancer deaths

A significant drop in cancer deaths for the 2nd year in a row:

Fewer people died of cancer in 2004 than in 2003, marking the second consecutive year that cancer deaths have declined in the United States, a new American Cancer Society report shows. According to Cancer Statistics 2007, there were 3,014 fewer cancer deaths in 2004 compared to the previous year. The report is published in the latest issue of the ACS journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

That number is much higher than the drop of 369 deaths reported between 2003 and 2002. And that suggests the trend is more than just a statistical blip, experts say.

"This second consecutive drop in the number of actual cancer deaths, much steeper than the first, shows last year's historic drop was no fluke," says John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. "The hard work towards preventing cancer, catching it early, and making treatment more effective is paying dramatic, lifesaving dividends."...

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Cancer_Deaths_Down_Again.asp

Relay is coming!

The 2007 theme is "Relayville" emphasizing the village aspect of the American Cancer Society and Relay, the funds raised support our community and raise awareness for cancer services in the area. The committee has some new goals for the year & I'm really excited to see what '07 brings.

2006: 15 teams $24,000 raised
2007: 27 teams $37,000 goal

If you're interested in coming out to check it out, participate or maybe even form your own team-let me know, we'd love to have you whether it's for an hour or overnight. [Plus, who can turn down Chris Dip!? :) ]

I'd love any ideas on incorporating the theme to the team or campsite.

acsevents.org

Relay online is available! Team members will be able to sign up again, keep track of email to family & friends and receive or make donations. http://www.acsevents.org/relay/in/allennorth/nightowlsforacure

* (NEW) This year people will be able to purchase luminaria online for the lighted ceremony either In Honor of a survivor or In Memory of someone who has passed on. ACS asks for at least a $10 donation for these but any amount can be donated. All honorees will be recognized at the ceremony on Relay day.

* When signing up, DO select your t-shirt size but DO NOT pay the participation fee (Select Team Member no fee). We've already got enough money to cover our team administrative cost. Please come out and join us at no cost!

So it's a fundraiser...where does the money actually go?

Relay funds 4 segments of the American Cancer Society, Research* being one of them. I stumbled across the update below today--donation dollars in action!

Targeted Drugs, Vaccines Among Cancer Advances in 2006
The Year in Review

* Research: The American Cancer Society is the nation’s largest non-governmental organization to fund cancer research. The Society funds the most innovative, groundbreaking research so future generations won’t have to face cancer as a life-threatening disease. Society researchers have won 40 Nobel Prizes and our research program has helped save millions of lives.

To date, the American Cancer Society has spent more than $2.5 billion on research. That research has led to advances such as the Pap test, the bone marrow transplant, and drugs such as Tamoxifen and Gleevec, which have positively impacted and even saved the lives of many people with cancer.

How did Relay get it's start?

In the mid-1980s, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed—running marathons.

In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for more than 83 miles. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer. That first year, nearly 300 of Dr. Klatt's friends, family, and patients watched as he ran and walked the course.

While he circled the track those 24 hours, he thought about how others could take part. He envisioned a 24-hour team relay event that could raise more money to fight cancer. Months later he pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event known as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.

In 1986, 19 teams took part in the first team relay event on the track at the historical Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000.

Hello Relayers and friends!

I've decided to give NOFAC another home, since (unfortunately) the entire world isn't on MySpace yet. Pull up a chair and feel free to put your feet on the furniture!