TO THE EDITOR:
It's not a race. I've said it more times than I can count. Yet the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life is a race — it's a race to save lives to find a cure and protect our future our world. It's a race against time.
One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. I know it's a statistic but it's real. Take me for instance. My mother died of cancer at the young age of 40 my grandmother passed away from cancer before I was born and currently my aunt is fighting the disease.
We cannot ignore it. It penetrates our lives at increasing pace.
The good news? Through knowledge advocacy and awareness a cure is on the horizon. Each day we move closer inching forward. Research has shown that cancer incidence rates have stabilized and for many common forms of cancer actually dropped.
This is our call to action. This is the motivating factor that we cannot quit now. It's time to make a conscious decision to stand up to fight back for yourself your friends and your family. You're not alone.
You have the fellow support of the Tar Heel community the support of fellow Relayers in all states and 21 countries around the world.
Cancer kills more people worldwide than HIV/AIDS tuberculosis and malaria combined and through Relay the worldwide community is coming together to fight. Now is the time to rally our campus our nation and our world around one cause. The rally starts here. Join approximately 2000 college students and community members today on Fetzer Field and Belk Track. We cannot do it without you.
Now is your opportunity to Relay to be a part of something greater than yourself. Relay for your parents your siblings your neighbors. Relay for the future of a complete stranger. Relay for yourself.
Krista Pool
Event Chairwoman
UNC Relay For Life