June 23, 2022

This paid event listing is sponsored by Relay for Life.

After two years, Relay for Life will be returning to Sioux Falls in person this July.

The American Cancer Society event will be July 22 at 6 p.m. at Sertoma Park, 4300 S. Oxbow Ave.

“It’s great to be back in person, but planning has been challenging because we haven’t had contact with so many of our regular participants for two years,” event lead and 15-year volunteer Kimber Longcrow said.

“We are hoping that we are doing the right things to make the needed connections to get participation for our event and celebrate our survivors.”

Relay for Life is a celebration as much as it is a fundraiser, honoring those who have survived cancer while remembering those who have passed.

“Unfortunately, we are all touched in one way or another by cancer at some point in our life, and this is a great opportunity to join the fight against cancer,” Longcrow said.

In 2022, it is estimated that there will be 5,370 new cancer cases in South Dakota. As a result, many concerns for cancer patients and their families emerge.

For instance, in any given year, 3.6 million Americans miss at a minimum one medical appointment because of a lack of transportation. The impact of transportation barriers on people’s health consists of delayed or missed medical appointments, difficulty making and keeping follow-up appointments, inability to comply with prescribed health management plans, increased use of emergency rooms and poor health outcomes.

Because of generous donors and sponsors, ACS invest $4.2 million in transportation and lodging grant funding to health systems to reduce missed appointments because of transportation barriers.

Funds raised from the Sioux Falls Relay for Life are dedicated to cancer research as well as providing local lodging and transportation grants to cancer centers throughout South Dakota in support of patients accessing care.

Other ACS resources exist for cancer patients, including the National Cancer Information Center, or NCIC, which is available 24/7 at 800-227-2345 and provides trained, caring staff members who deliver information and support when and where people need it, such as financial concerns, hair-loss and mastectomy products, lodging and transportation questions, survivor and caregiver support and on-call nurses. The NCIC responds to more than 1.4 million inquiries annually.

At Relay for Life, “it’s inspiring to hear other survivors’ stories,” said volunteer and cancer survivor Audrey Hasche, who has been volunteering with the event since 2006.

“One year, I did the survivor lap with a woman who had battled cancer 17 times. I’ll never forget her. She was so upbeat and positive, and her story was so inspiring. We’re excited to have the opportunity to bring cancer survivors, caregivers and their families and friends together in person again.”

Business and other organizations, as well as families and friends, are encouraged to form teams and participate or consider making a donation if unable to attend the event.

“It is a great team-building event for businesses to show support of fellow employees going through cancer,” said 15-year volunteer Judy Donovan. “It is very emotional and eye-opening for all. And it creates huge bonds among those who attend.”

Relay for Life also is in need of volunteers to help with everything from promoting the event to setting up, managing the event and tear down.

“Being involved with events like Relay for Life is a great way to show our support for other organizations,” said Kara Meisinger, Sanford Health Relay for Life team co-captain.

“Services provided by the American Cancer Society are available to patients and their families in communities we serve, which makes the impact even greater knowing that some of it stays local. Company teams also allow for opportunities to meet others in your organization you may not get the chance to connect with on a regular basis.”

Since 1991, the cancer death rate has dropped by 32 percent because of cancer research that developed new treatments and medications, translating to more than 3.5 million lives saved. Our goal by 2035 is to have the cancer death rate drop by 40 percent.

Overall, ACS’s goal is to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, and our efforts at local events are all directly guided at aiding ACS and ACS CAN in reaching that goal. We hope to see you at our Relay for Life event this year! To get connected to help, email [email protected]. And to learn more and register for Relay for Life, click here.