Eat, Work Out and Fight Cancer

Here is another great (and tastebud-friendly) way to support the fight against cancer in Marietta.  On Monday, April 19^th, instead of bringing lunch to work or cooking dinner, consider eating at either Chili's or Macaroni Grill restaurants at The Avenue West Cobb, 3625 Dallas Highway in Marietta to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.

Servers at both restaurants will be competing all day on Monday in Paint Cobb Purple by selling paper Relay stars to their guests for $1 each. The restaurant that raises the most money will receive an award to display in their restaurant for the next year. The server who sells the most will receive a $100 Visa gift card.

This fundraiser provides a fun lead-in to the annual Cobb Relay, one of the largest Relay for Life events.  It will take place from 7 p.m. May 7 to 7 a.m. May 8 at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta. Organizers expect 5,000 people to participate. Their goal is to raise close to $1 million.

The ACS' signature fundraising event involves an overnight, non-competitive walk or run around a track. Teams of people camp out and take turns walking or running around the track in memory of those who have battled cancer. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times.

Schools, churches, businesses and other organizations are asked to form teams. Donations from the community are also encouraged. So far, 199 teams - including more than 2,800 participants - have signed up and over $301,000 has been raised, according to the ACS Web site.

To register a Relay for Life team, call (770) 429-0089 or visit www.cobbrelay.org. Each team member pays a $10 registration fee.

On May 7, there will be a kids walk at 6 p.m.; opening ceremonies and a survivor lap at 7 p.m.; and luminaria ceremony at 10 p.m. There also will be live music, food and children's activities at the event.

Please make it a point to attend one or both of these events in Cobb County.  Enjoy the satisfaction of a good meal, a good walk and a much needed donation to the fight against cancer.