HR0139 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0139 LRB094 11174 HSS 41832 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Relay for Life of Vermilion County, scheduled for May 14 and 15, 2005, is a community celebration and is the American Cancer Society's national signature activity, bringing communities together in a unique overnight event; teams of 12 people come together to honor cancer survivors and in memory of those who have died from the disease; members of each team walk or run around a track throughout the night in the hope that cancer will one day be eliminated; and

WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research education, advocacy, and service; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, over 57,000 residents of Illinois were diagnosed with cancer; over all, the five-year survival rate for cancer patients is over 60 percent; the American Cancer Society wants to increase this survival rate and has set attainable goals to be accomplished by the year 2015; and

WHEREAS, Money raised in the Relay for Life helps the American Cancer Society to provide research, education, advocacy, and service through programs such as Reach to Recovery, Man to Man, Look Good Feel Better, and the Cancer Survivors Network; research on national and statewide levels translates into more people surviving cancer in every city, town, and village in Illinois; because of this and other research, there are more than 9,000,000 Americans alive today who are cancer survivors; and

WHEREAS, The Vermilion County Relay for Life will feature a Luminaria Ceremony after dark, where friends gather around the candlelit track to remember, honor, and celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer; it will also feature the Cancer Survivor's Victory Lap; the first lap of the Relay for Life is reserved for cancer survivors and caregivers in order to focus on triumph and healing as the event begins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the organizers and participants in the Vermilion County Relay for Life, and wish them well during this year's relay on May 14 and 15, 2005; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Vermilion County Relay for Life organizers as an expression of our deepest respect and esteem and with best wishes for a successful event.