By Charles McClure
news@ltview.com
Lake Travis area cancer survivors will unite with volunteers to battle the deadly disease at the annual Relay For Life of Lake Travis fundraiser April 17 at Lake Travis High School’s Cavalier Stadium.

The event is the local leg of the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life nationwide fundraiser, which will include more than 5,000 events.
The relay will take from 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Fundraising teams will set up tents and lay down sleeping bags for the night. Teams have one member walking the field’s track at all times during the 12-hour period.
Cancer survivors will kick things off with one lap around the track in their special purple t-shirts.
“They’ve either kicked this thing or they’re still fighting and we want to cheer them on,” Sam Chapman, the Lake Travis relay’s president, said.
A luminaria ceremony where people light candles in honor of those they know who have either survived or passed on from cancer will be held at 10 p.m.
“This is the signature event of the American Cancer Society,” Chapman explained. “It is not really well known because it is not advertised or promoted as much as other events. But in fact, this is the largest fundraiser on the planet.
“Part of what we want to accomplish is honoring cancer survivors — and their families and caregivers — and we do that by giving them purple shirts because that is the color of survivors. All those on hand always cheer on the survivors during the first lap.”
Chapman said registration will begin at 6 p.m.
“It is a serious business, but it is also a fun event,” Chapman said. “Part of that is the youth involvement. We have an incredible number of junior high and high school students who take part in this event. Their support is amazing and energizes everyone.”
Around half of the event’s volunteers are from high school, with 60-80 additional volunteers coming from the middle schools.
“These are the kids that are going to grow up to be tomorrow’s leaders,” Chapman said.
Teams at the event conduct individual fundraising efforts, both during and before the relay, with a range of activities — from bake and yard sales, to letters to relatives.
“Last year, a group of cheerleaders started just 30 days before the event, and ended up raising the second largest amount of money, so it is amazing what some of the students can accomplish,” Chapman said,
A host of entertainers will be on hand, including a DJ to keep the crowd motivated throughout the evening. And there is always plenty of food on hand for participants. Some bring their own soda and snacks ad the football field converts ito a minature campground.
Lake Travis’ relay could still use some more volunteers to assist survivors, provide publicity and help with the night’s various activities.
Teams interested in participating also need to contact the Chapman at 293-2422 or at the Web site, www.relayforlife.org/laketravistx and sign up for the event or volunteer.