ommunity NESS Twenty First Annual Up Walking That Lap Relay celebrates cancer survivors. ONE DAY ONLY Saturday, May 29th, 2010 9am-7pm Trade in your clean used jeans for a new pair at Jeans collected will be donated to the: Homeless of Oakland County One Pair of Jeans per customer No charges, cash and check only Orchard Lake Road, just North of Maple in The Orchard Mall 2413-8511-11260 All additional donations are tax deducible Want to get the JN online? Not a print subscriber? Get your issue now! IT'S EASY! DETROri jEWiSH NEWS Get your ePaper subscription today by visiting djn.pressmart.com 1567320 38 May 20 • 2010 he American Cancer Society's Relay For Life event often is defined as a celebration of life and truly symbolizes the courage and spirit of the more than 500,000 cancer survivors who, each year, proudly walk the event's survivor lap at more than 5,000 Relay For Life events nationwide. "More people are surviving cancer than ever before and I am one of them:' said Brad Silber of Commerce Township, a 13-year cancer survivor. "In fact, there are 11 million cancer survivors living today. Because of progress made by the American Cancer Society, cancer is no longer an immediate death sentence. "I am living proof that this disease is survivable, but there is still more work to be done to ensure everyone diagnosed with cancer celebrates more birthdays. That is why we hold the Relay For Life of West Bloomfield each year." The relay runs June 5-6 at West Bloomfield High School. Beginning with registration at 9:15 a.m. June 5, local cancer survivors will be honored during the Survivor Celebration. "Relay For Life is a place where you can go to share your story without say- ing a word',' said Michelle Silber, survi- vorship chair. "We are inviting all cancer survivors, no matter if it's been one day or one decade since their diagnosis, to come out and be celebrated." Participating cancer survivors are given special T-shirts and beads to wear T as they lead a special victory lap around the track. A complimentary lunch for survivors will be served. "The Victory Lap is one of the most moving experiences of my cancer jour- ney," said Esther Olson. "Each year, I'm overwhelmed by the crowds of people who surround the track cheering on sur- vivors like myself. It reminds me that I'm not alone in my fight against cancer:" Also at the heart of this emotional event is the luminaria ceremony. Luminaria are small candlelit bags decorated with the names of people who have faced cancer. The lit bags line the track often into the morning hours. If you would like to make a donation for a luminaria in honor or in memory of someone touched by cancer, call (248) 663-3409. All donations received for luminaria and the Relay For Life as a whole are used to fund the American Cancer Society's mission to save lives by finding cures and by fighting back against cancer. Donations also can be made directly to the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Bloomfield by visiting www.relayforlife.org/westbloomfieldmi and clicking on make a donation. For information on joining the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Bloomfield, contact Kari DeCarlo at (248) 663-3409. For information on survivorship, contact Michelle Silber at (248) 363-8365. ❑ Cancer Battle Goes To Israel WASHINGTON (JTA) — A leading breast cancer organization and the city of Jerusalem are teaming up. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Nancy Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, announced the start of the Israel Breast Cancer Collaborative this fall. Events from Oct. 25-29 will feature a think tank on early detection, the Race for the Cure and the Israel Mission del- egation of scientists, cancer survivors and activists who want to serve the breast cancer movement in Israel. Asked whether there would be outreach to Palestinians who want to attend, the mayor pledged to make the event accessible, describing it as a "bipartisan, nonpolitical event" Barkat joked later, "As requested, the city walls will be pink." "Sixteen years ago, Susan G. Komen's very first international research grant went to Israel," Brinker said. "Since then we have funded nearly $2 million in scientific research and community outreach." Brinker said the collaborative will allow her organization to continue its work with current global partners such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Hadassah as well as new partners in Israel such as the Israel Cancer Association. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and his wife, Hadassah, and former ambassador Ned Siegel and his wife, Stephanie, are co-chairs of the col- laborative. Joining the partnership are Breakthrough, a charity established in the United Kingdom; the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation; and Sharsheret, a nonprofit organization for young Jewish women facing breast cancer.