Relay for Life: One Team Honors 'Uncle Bill'

With just days left in the campaign to raise money for the Grayslake and Round Lake Area Relay for Life, Heather Edwards and her Relay team Bill's Buddies are busy collecting any last donations.

The team is made up of 29 local family members and friends, ages 8 months to 85 years. Seven of the team members are cancer survivors. So far they have raised more than $7,000 by having home parties, asking friends and neighbors and even standing outside stores 'coin-canning'. Edwards personally has raised more than $2,600.

"People stop and tell us their story, or they tell us someone else's cancer story," Edwards said. "You get to share with a lot of people, and maybe they'll come and participate in the Relay for Life this year."

This is Bill's Buddies fourth year in the Relay. The team is in honor of Edwards' Uncle Bill Robinson of Round Lake Park who died of brain cancer in March, 2009. Edwards said just months after he passed she heard about the Relay for Life, and the team Bill's Buddies was born.

"It's in honor of him. He was our inspiration," Edwards said. "but each year I am adding more and more people to the list of who I am walking in memory of." That list currently has fifteen family members and friends on it who had or currently have cancer.

"To see all the people come together at this Relay to fight cancer and to hear all their stories is to see that there is still that goodness in the community," Edwards said. "I know people who have had everything from brain, breast, colon, skin cancer and more.  I want a cure to be found for all types."

The Relay for Life for the Grayslake and Round Lake Areas is Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22 at the Round Lake High School, 800 High School Drive in Round Lake. It's not too late to be a part of the Relay for Life. You can register the day of the event. There is no cost or team minimum to participate.

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