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Community Corner

Relay for Life Team Profile: Party Lite Night Crawlers

Participating for the third year in a row, the Night Crawlers set their sights on raising funds at this weekend's Relay For Life 2011.

While many towns around the nation and the world participate in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, the individual teams are what make all the difference.

One local team participating in the annual Grayslake/Round Lake Relay For Life this Saturday night, July 16, is the Party Lite Night Crawlers.

Rachel Kahn is a member of the Party Lite Night Crawlers, which is participating in the Relay For Life for its third consecutive year. The first year they raised $501; in 2010, they raised more than $5,000; and so far for 2011, with donations still pouring in, they have raised in excess of $2,300.

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They hope the bulk of their donations will be received this weekend at the relay, and they can accept donations until July 31, 2011 as well. Many team members are participating in the event to honor friends or family members who have dealt with cancer. 

“My father, Bruce Lipman, is a survivor who we are honoring,” said Kahn. “We relay in memory of the loved ones we lost … my husband’s grandmother and aunts, my uncle, others in our family and our friends’ families. We do it because we know that every little bit helps. We do it because we want support given to the families who are going through it (cancer) with their loved ones. We do it to be a part of the community and something bigger.”

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She said their team continues to grow each year.

“We have 17 team members this year, and each year our team has grown,” Kahn said. “My father, Bruce, is the only survivor on our team.”

What makes the relay so special is how inventive each team can be. Each team “area” is full of exciting and new ways to get people interested in coming and being a part of the celebration of survivors. The Party Lite Night Crawlers have tried various approaches.

“We have done bake sales, dunk tanks, canning in front of stores so far, and the night of the relay, my husband is coloring his goatee the color of a cancer awareness ribbon, where each donation gets a vote,” she said. “Plus, we’ve sent out emails to family and friends asking for donations.”

The American Cancer Society has a lineup of entertainment to encourage the teammates as they walk on the track, as well as the spectators. The most touching part of the evening is usually the luminary ceremony where the track is lined with luminaries to honor those who have lost their battle with cancer, and give hope to those who fight on. Donations are accepted for these lit bags.

Whether you want to bring a team of your own or make a donation, visit www.relayforlifegrayslake.com or stop by this year’s Relay For Life.

The Grayslake/Round Lake Relay goes from 6 p.m. Saturday, July 16 until 6 a.m. Sunday, July 17. It will be held at Round Lake High School, 800 N. High School Drive, off Cedar Lake Road.

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