Guam Relay For Life Honored at Regional Summit
Guam- Guam’s Relay For Life was honored with several awards recently at the 2009 High Plains Division Relay For Life Summit in Dallas, Texas.
The annual leadership summit brought over 1,400 volunteers and staff from over 700 Relay For Life events in Guam, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas together to share ideas and honor the various Relays for their contributions to the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life helps to raise funds to support the fight against cancer.
“This year we celebrated “a world with more birthdays” due to the successes and achievements of the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life. I was proud to accept the awards for the Guam Relay Team. It was an honor to stand amongst such large state contingents and be recognized for all our hard work” (Deb Gallo, the 2010 Relay For Life Chairperson). Guam ranked 2nd in the Top Ten Community Event Award raising over $413,000 and 3rd in the Community Per Capita Award for population 100,000-149,999 at $3.10. In addition, the Bank of Guam was honored this year coming in 7th overall in the Top Community Fundraiser Team Award category bringing in $39,099.75!
This year’s High Plains Leadership conference was attended by Claudia Clement, American Cancer Society Community Manager – Development, Deb Gallo 2010 Event Chairperson for Relay 2010 and Anje Sulio Guam’s first “Hero of Hope”. The “Heroes of Hope” program aims to accomplish three goals:
1. “Identify a select group of cancer survivors and caregivers with exemplary involvement in Relay For Life®,
2. Broaden the reach, effectiveness and outreach of survivorship year-round
3. Develop a broad and diverse group of Relay For Life spokespersons.”
“Being Guam’s first Hero of Hope is such a great honor and privilege. It allows me to continue the fight against cancer; giving me broader opportunities to share my story with others, bringing awareness to those who would listen, and encouraging all to participate in Relay for Life so that one day nobody has to hear those dreadful words “you have cancer” (Anje Sulio).
Relay For Life occurs every year, this year the event will be May 28-May 29, 7:00p.m.-7:00a.m. and supports the American Cancer Society’s National Research initiatives that frequently uncover new forms of cancer treatment. The local support the American Cancer Society receives every year through Relay For Life provides the community access to cancer information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through the Society’s website www.cancer.org and toll free number, 1.800.ACS.2345. Additionally, funds raised provide support for the patient services program and resources to present cancer educational programs to the island community. Thanks to your fundraising efforts, in 2008, the Guam Field Office was able to pay for 270 nights of lodging, provided 177 cases of ensure, 182 boxes of colostomy supplies and 115 gift items.
For more information on becoming involved with the Guam Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society, please call 477-9451/2.
