Food, fun, and a fight against cancer
Posted: 03.31.2011 at 10:07 AM
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KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI -- Food, games, entertainment… and a fight against cancer.

That’s all taking place at the annual Adair County Relay for Life, Saturday, April 2 at the Kirksville Primary School.

From six p.m., Saturday to six a.m., Sunday, teams of runners will take turns running the track.

“For 12 hours, somebody on each of these teams is on that track at one time or another and it basically represents the thing a cancer patient goes through in treatment,” said Tom Johnson, Adair Country Relay for Life Event Co-Chair. “It starts out kind-of with it being light, then it gets dark, and then in the morning there's new hope.”

So far, 37 teams or runners have signed up, and each team member has been raising pledges in order to donate money to the American Cancer Society.

“We raised right around $35,000 last year and our goal is $40,000  this year, and we're well on our way to getting that," Johnson said.

The event is free and there will also be food, entertainment and games taking place the entire time.

Johnson says there is not a person in the world who is not touched by cancer in some way.

“It's a way for us to raise money and try to eliminate cancer and find a cure for it, but also it's a way for those that are touched by it in a personal matter.. it’s a way for them to fight back a little bit and get something back.”

It’s not too late to get involved. Just show up between six p.m.. – six a.m.!