Local communities will fight together to beat cancer
On Feb. 24, theAmerican Cancer Society's local Relay for Life (the New Egypt area relay covering Millstone, Upper Freehold, Allentown and many of our sister communities) will be holding its seventh annual kickoff celebration. This event marks another opportunity for our neighbors, cancer survivors and families to join together in a collective battle to eliminate cancer.

As we view the successes and progress made to beat cancer, we have much to celebrate. Anti-smoking legislation has reached most of our businesses, restaurants and public areas. New medicines and vaccines are turning former mortality statistics into survivor success stories.

But the effort is not done. Relay for Life, while a celebration of survivorship, brings to our community the opportunity for each of us to make a public statement: "We will fight together to beat cancer."

Each of you can play your own role. As a volunteer, you can partner with your friends, neighbors or family to form your own team, join your classmates and teachers

and create or join a local school team, join an existing team, participate individually or just make a contribution. Whatever level of involvement, your efforts will join those of millions to work collectively to continue the path to success.

Please join us for the Relay for Life kickoff at 3 p.m. Feb. 24 at the reception center at Indian Rock Campground, West Veterans Highway, Jackson. Refreshments will be served. Information about the relay as well as free information about cancer will be available. Reservations are not required.

For cancer information, including programs for patients and survivors, call (800) 227-2345. For New Egypt area Relay for Life info, call (732) 786-1881 and ask forAnita Pfefferkorn (New Egypt area Relay for Life chairwoman) or e-mail nikki.bickart@cancer.org or anita@indianrockresort. com. We'll see you there.

John Pfefferkorn Public Relations Chairman New Egypt Area Relay for Life