During February’s Special Council Presentation, Mayor Jeff Porter was named this year’s Homestead Relay for Life Honorary Chair. As a proven leader and proactive member of the Homestead Community, and now Chair of this annual event, Mayor Porter will serve as an advocate and supporter of Relay For Life, and as a resource to those community members looking to get involved and give back.
Last year, Councilman Elvis Maldonado was honorary Chair and Relay for Life of Homestead raised over $56,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than twice their goal.
Relay for Life events offer everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Relays are an overnight event, up to 18 hours in length. This year, Relay for Life of Homestead will take place on April 24th, starting at 6pm at Homestead Hospital.
The Event Chair for Relay For life of Homestead, Yvette Ortiz alongside Jessica Smith, Community Manager for Relay for Life, proudly presented the award. The certificate is a token of the great appreciation Relay for Life has for Mayor Porter, and his efforts to make their event a success. He has also helped organize their Bark for Life event, coming up on March 21st. Bark for Life is another fundraising event, that benefits the ACS as well. It honors the caregiving qualities of our canine best friends, and presents an opportunity for people to be empowered through their four legged companions.
“Relay for life does such great work and is essential to our community” Mayor Porter pointed out, “Especially since one of our own, Councilwoman Judy Waldman, is a strong and graceful survivor of this terrible disease. This is why I’m proud to be able to represent our community’s commitment to join the fight against cancer.”
Ms. Smith also took the opportunity to thank Councilwoman Judy Waldman for her help. She is serving as their Community Champion this year, thus promoting the event and getting more people involved, not just sponsors but cancer survivors and care givers too.
In more than 5,200 communities and 20 countries, Relay for Life events are the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The ACS is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Together with millions of supporters, the ACS saves lives by helping people stay well and get well, finding cures, and fighting back.
Relay for Life of Homestead will be taking place on Friday April 24th to 25th 2015 at Homestead Hospital, from 6pm to 6am. For more information and to sign up go to: www.relayforlife.org/homesteadfl
