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The American Cancer Society wants to celebrate cancer survivors and current and former cancer patient caregivers, and it is inviting them out to the 2023 Relay For Life of Franklin City/Southampton County events on Friday, Sept. 22, and Saturday, Sept. 23.

An ACS Relay For Life news release shared details on both events.

SURVIVOR’S DINNER

The Survivor’s Dinner will be held Friday, Sept. 22, in Franklin. Contact Debbie Carter, at 757-350-9267, or Angela Denson, at 757-562-2295, for more information and to register.

LUMINARIA CEREMONY

The Luminaria Ceremony will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, from 4-9 p.m. at Barrett’s Landing in downtown Franklin.

“After entertainment from the Courtland Hornets Cheer Squad, Breathe Dance Studio and our own Cecil Edwards Jr.,” said local Relay For Life officials, “we will open our ceremony at 6:30 p.m. with a celebratory Survivor Lap, then move into a program of honoring our cancer survivors and remembering those that lost their battles.”

Luminary bags and lanterns are available for purchase from any Relay For Life team member, or by calling Debbie Carter, at 757-350-9267, or Angela Denson, at 757-562-2295. White bags, gold bags or lanterns may be purchased in honor or in memory of friends or loved ones.

Funds raised help the American Cancer Society attack cancer in dozens of ways, each of them critical to achieving a world without cancer — from developing breakthrough therapies to building supportive communities, from providing empowering resources to deploying activists to raise awareness. 

“Community volunteers and supporters are the backbone of this movement, and you can be part of it right here,” local officials said. 

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event to save lives from cancer. At Relay For Life events, participants celebrate friends and loved ones who have been touched by cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action for lifesaving change. 

Those with questions are encouraged to call Denson, at 757-562-2295, or Carter, at 757-350-9267. People can also visit RelayForLife.org/.