Lake will host Relay for Life celebration June 2

Finnegan named Honorary Chairman, Whitesidewalls will perform

Relay For Life, the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, will take on a decidedly Clear Lake flavor this year.  The June 2 event will be based at Clear Lake City Park and its honorary chairman is Mike Finnegan, from Clear Lake.

Finnegan, who is the owner/publisher of the Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May 2016.  In June he underwent surgery to remove his prostate and today considers himself a cancer survivor.

“I consider myself blessed because my doctors found my cancer in its early stages and were able to contain it to the prostate.”  He went on to say he is a prime example of the importance of doing a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test regularly and knowing what your options are.  PSA is a substance produced by the prostate gland. Elevated PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer, a noncancerous condition such as prostatitis, or an enlarged prostate.

“The American Cancer Society’s mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer,” shared Collen Snyder, another Clear Laker who co-chairs the event with Diane Dennler.

She explained this year’s Relay will be much different from others.

“In the beginning, the Relay was an over night event; as the years have passed the hours have changed from over night to late afternoon to midnight, then late morning to early evening and now this year it is a four-hour celebration,” said Snyder.

With the theme “Celebrating Today AND Tomorrow,” this year’s Relay for Life will still include opening ceremonies starting at 6 p.m., with speakers and spotlight sponsors followed by the Survivors Lap and then the Caregiver Lap.  The entertainment will begin at 7 p.m. and play through the closing ceremonies at 10 p.m.

“We are pleased to announce that The Whitesidewalls will be performing from 7 -10 p.m.,” announced Snyder.

It’s not too late to sign up for Relay For Life of Cerro Gordo County, or make plans to attend.  There will be many opportunities that night to con-

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tribute, free will offerings, silent auction, team camps with fundraisers, and also audience challenges.

Go to the website before May 1 to sign up.  To receive a Relay T-shirt, each participant must be signed up on the website and commit to raising $100.  The sign up link is  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY17MW?pg=entry&fr_id=...

Relay for Life is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in more than 5,200 communities and 27 countries. Volunteers give of their time and effort because they believe it’s time to take action against cancer.

“I am hoping many will join us on June 2 and help celebrate and fight back,” added Snyder.  “Join us at our event to bring Cerro Gordo County together to remember loved ones lost, honor survivors of all cancers, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society make a global impact on cancer.”

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