The American Cancer Society is extending an invitation to cancer survivors and their guest to a celebration reception. New this year, cancer survivors will be honored prior to the Relay For Life walking event in June.

On Thursday, May 26, the American Cancer Society hosts the ninth annual Relay For Life of Bluffton Cancer Survivors Reception. This is event is free for cancer survivors and a guest.

The reception will take place at the Bluffton Senior Center at 321 N. Main St., Bluffton from 5:30 - 7 p.m.

The dinner, for cancer survivors and guests, will be accompanied by an American Cancer Society I Can Cope program "Keeping Well in Mind and Body." The dinner will include beef and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, coffee or tea. Survivors will also receive their official Relay For Life event t-shirt to be worn at the upcoming walking event.

The Survivors Reception is a kick-off event hosted before the American Cancer SocietyRelay For Life, the organization's signature activity. Relay offers everyone in a community the opportunity to fight back against cancer.

"We are very excited about this year's Cancer Survivors Reception," said Sheree Stratton, committee volunteer. "We are looking forward to paying tribute to the tremendous personal journey that cancer survivors have been on. Every survivor is invited, whether they were diagnosed yesterday or 30 years ago."

Relay allows communities to celebrate the lives of those who have survived their personal battle with cancer. For the newly diagnosed, Relay offers an opportunity to meet someone who has survived the same type of cancer.

For the cancer patient in treatment, Relay provides an opportunity to share with others. For the long-term survivor, Relay brings a communities' recognition of the struggle and closure to a trying time in their life.

"At Relay, and at the Survivors Reception, everyone understands the challenges thatcancer survivors have overcome and there is peace of mind knowing that together we can face the challenges ahead," said Tracy Steele, event co-chairperson.

Reservations for the Survivor Dinner are required by May 20. For more information, or to make a reservation, call Sheree Stratton 419-358-2901.

"Help us pass the word about the change to our survivor reception and invite any cancer survivor that you know," said Steele.

In addition, there is still time to put together a Relay For Life team for the June 24-25 event at Bluffton University's Salzman Stadium. Teams are made up of friends, family members and co-workers that want to take up the fight against cancer and support the American Cancer Society's programs and services.

To learn more or to make a donation to the event, log onto www.relayforlife.org/bluffton.

For more information about the American Cancer Society call 1-800-227-2345 or visitcancer.org.

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century ofexperience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well bybeing there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through
investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers topass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.