Burleson goes purple for one week in honor of Relay For Life

by PegNews wire

BURLESON — Thursday night, Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter proclaimed the week of April 20-26 as “Burleson Goes Purple” Week in Burleson to create awareness of the seventh annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Burleson. The mayor presented the proclamation to Relay For Life Chairman Brenda Gammon, members of the Relay steering committee, and team captains.

Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter (right) presents the Burleson Goes Purple proclamation to American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Burleson Chairman Brenda Gammon, Burleson Goes Purple Chairman Allyne Middleton, members of the local Relay steering committee, and team captains.

The American Cancer Society theme for Relay For Life is “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.” The Burleson event will celebrate all those things “Mardi-Gras style.”

More than 90 city employees, family, and friends will represent the City of Burleson at the 12-hour walking fundraiser April 25-26 at the stadium at Kerr Middle School. Representing the City are the Burleson Police Department (five teams) and the Burleson Fire Department, Burleson City Hall, Neighborhood Services Department, and the Burleson Public Library, one team each.

According to the proclamation, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for one out of every four deaths each year. The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering. The Society raises funds for cancer research, education, advocacy, and patient services.

Burleson Goes Purple is a citywide campaign involving team captains, sponsors, and the schools. These groups paint the town purple with purple ribbons to recognize survivors. Burleson Goes Purple also serves as a reminder that Relay For Life is on the horizon.

Relay For Life is a 12-hour overnight team event that starts at dusk, to symbolize the time that the person has been diagnosed as having cancer, and ends at the next day's morning, to symbolize the end of the treatment and the “light at the end of the tunnel,” in an effort to parallel the physical effects, emotion, and mental state of a cancer patient while undergoing treatment. Relay For Life brings together families, businesses, civic groups, and other community members in an effort to raise awareness and help eradicate cancer.

Source: City of Burleson