Riverview Relay for Life Reaches Million-Dollar Goal

The 11th annual Riverview Relay for Life, which was held on Saturday and Sunday at Riverside Park in Oakmont, is a 24-hour fundraising event for the American Cancer Society that includes team activities, live music, food concessions, raffles and games while team members take turns walking or running around the track. 

At the Relay, the teams camped out at the park and had representatives on the track at all times because "cancer never sleeps," according to the American Cancer Society. 

The event raised more than $106,000 this year, bringing the total amount of fund raised to more than $1 million throughout the 11 years. The Relay's theme was "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," to encourage participants to reach that goal.

The Relay began with a survivors lap in which cancer survivors walked the track to celebrate their victories over the disease. In the evening, there was a luminaria ceremony where candles were lit inside bags with the names of people who have been affected by cancer. Teams walked in silence to pay their respects.

The American Cancer Society enrolled people for the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), a long-term study that will help researchers better identify the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. Relay chairwoman Barbara Kutilek said she was pleased with the results.

"We are so grateful for their commitment to this crucial research effort," she said.