Rolling Hills Casino employees raised almost $5,500 last weekend for the first Relay for Life Walkathon held in Corning. The Rolling Hills team was among 16 teams and 168 people that participated in the successful event, which raised over $23,000 for the American Cancer Society.
“We had 17 employees on our team, and they each walked at least an hour,” reported Kristine Raimer, who with Dani Guzman co-captained the team. “Altogether, we walked 408 laps for a total of 102 miles. That’s an average of six miles per person. Several of our team members walked over 10 miles.”
In addition to walking, volunteers staffed a mardi-gras themed information booth sponsored by the Casino to raise awareness about pancreatic, kidney and childhood cancers. A photo of the booth being set up is below.
The Relay for Life is a 24-hour event held in cities across the nation to celebrate cancer survivorship and raise money for cancer prevention and early detection education programs, free services for cancer patients, and research grants to fight cancer and find a cure.
Many of the Relay for Life participants are cancer survivors or have lost a family member to cancer.
“Cancer runs in my family and this walkathon means a lot to me,” said Raimer. “The American Cancer Society gave my entire family a lot of support when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I saw what my mom had to go through with cancer, and I do this so that hopefully my daughter doesn’t have to go through the same experience.”
One of the Casino’s team members, Joann Hall, is a two-time cancer survivor who carried the survivor flag during the Relay for Life opening lap to honor survivors and their caregivers. She is picture above.
According to Raimer, employee support for Relay for Life wasn’t limited to those who walked. Relay for Life is championed passionately throughout Rolling Hills,” she said proudly. “Employees were very generous with donations and they came out to cheer us on. Their support for this cause means a lot to all of us whose lives have been affected by cancer.”