Now less than two months away, the 2024 edition of the Relay For Life of Greater Stanislaus County is scheduled for May 18 and 19 in Modesto. It will be a 24-hour Relay, running from Saturday, May 18 at 9 a.m. until Sunday, May 19 at 9 a.m.
It will be hosted on the campus of Johansen High School, 641 Norseman Drive, Modesto, and brings together teams from throughout Stanislaus County and also some from beyond its borders, from neighboring counties, including San Joaquin County.
The next Team Captain meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m., at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Modesto.
Event chairperson Irene Cortez is asking all area cancer survivors to attend the meeting and also is encouraging them to take part in the Relay itself.
“We want to take a group photo of our survivors so that we can make that the cover shot of the program,” Cortez said. “What better way to express this year’s theme of ‘A World With More Birthdays’ than to feature our survivors on the cover.”
The American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, the Relay For Life locally has combined several communities in to one larger, centralized event. Teams come from Modesto, Oakdale, Riverbank, Patterson, Escalon, Tracy, Ripon and more; there is still plenty of time to sign up to take part.
This year, it is moving to Johansen, relocating there from its home of the last three years, John Thurman Field in Modesto, home of the Modesto Nuts minor league baseball team.
It also is moving back to a spring date, in May, as opposed to the late September-early October date it has occupied the last three years.
Fundraising has topped the $30,000 mark so far and the goal this year is set at $175,000.
While the event is fast approaching, Cortez said the actual fundraising year for the ACS continues into October, so teams can do fundraisers and special team events for several months following the on-site Relay.
Being planned for later, after the May Relay, is the annual Survivor Luncheon and information about that is to be presented at the March 28 meeting as well.
In asking cancer survivors to attend, Cortez said they hope to get many signed up for Relay and also have a good showing for the cover photo of the 2024 program.
“Our program contains the schedule for the day, a list of our teams and sponsors and moving ‘Why I Relay’ stories,” Cortez explained. “This program lasts forever and is a great keepsake as well as an important piece that helps us promote our event and spread awareness of our mission.”
Team Captain meetings generally last an hour to an hour and a half. Those planning to attend can park in the parking garage across the street from the DoubleTree Hotel; parking will be validated at the front desk.
For more information about how to get involved, contact TJ Johnson at 209-482-0862.
