SUMMERDALE, Ala. — 23,640 new cancer diagnoses in Alabama for 2010.

That’s a staggering number but what’s even more staggering is the 10,150 cancer-related deaths in the state, with 3,190 of them being lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society web site.

As tragic as those numbers are, there is a glimmer of hope in the fact there are 11 million survivors nationwide and the five-year survival rate is up to 68 percent.

And it’s because of these 11 million, 4,500 different Relay For Life events are planned each year around the country and the world.

With the theme “Racing for a Cure”, this year’s Relay for Central Baldwin County is set for Friday, November 19 at Pioneer Park in Summerdale with a survivors dinner taking place at 4:30 p.m. at the Summerdale Community Center, said Tiffany Lynn, Central Baldwin Relay committee chairwoman.

In its seventh year with 19 teams participating, Relay has already raised $5,500 with Rosinton Elementary School leading the pack with $3,043.This is Lynn’s second year as chairwoman but has been involved for six years and said there is a whole slate of activities planned for the evening.

According to the web site, “teams of people camp out at a local high school park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.”

There are certain traditions at all Relay events and are broken down into three areas- Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back.

Celebrate- Survivors lap- “an inspirational time to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we’ve achieved over cancer.”

Remember- The Luminaria Ceremony- “we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, with participants often walking a lap in silence.”

Fight Back- “we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.”

Each team member is responsible for raising at least $100 to support ACS research, education, advocacy and patient service programs, the web site site.

In addition to team members raising money, there are a number of sponsors that come together each year to help support Relay’s efforts and they include: Sweat Tire (Title), Tanger Outlets (Countywide ), Lee Drug Store, Inc. (Gold), E. J. Zimlich- Century 21 (Silver ), Baldwin EMC (Luminaria), Mack Funeral Home (Survivorship), Beachside Furniture, Citizen’s Bank, Coca-Cola, Middleton Auto Parts, Inc., Tractor Supply Company, Vision Bank and Wholesale Optical Supply (Bronze), BancorpSouth, Billie Jo Underwood, Gruenloh and Associates PC, Morgan’s Ice, White-Spunner Construction and Woodlands Medical Specialists (Friends of Relay).

Kicking the evening off at 6 p.m., the schedule of events are:

6 p.m.- Opening Ceremony- prayer by Rev. Michael Lynn of Robertsdale Assembly of God, Presentation of Colors- Robertsdale High School ROTC, National anthem- Renee McKinney, Welcome by Mayor David Wilson and Jeanie Mann. Relay coordinator, Introduction of sponsors and teams, survivor speaker- Carl Bailey, survivor lap and song “Run for Life”.

7 p.m.- Rosinton Elementary School dance

7:10-7:40 Cote’s Music and singing by Today’s Girl

7:40 p.m.- Alabama and Auburn lap

8 p.m.- Singing- Bert and Nikki

8:15 p.m.-Honor lap

8:30 p.m.- Locks of Love

9 p.m.- Luminaria Ceremony (Donna Givens-Baldwin EMC- Luminaria speaker), prayer and song, Remembrance Ceremony (Bert Campbell and Tonya Lynn)

9:30 -9:45 p.m.- Songs with Kelly, Bert and Blake Farmer

10 p.m.- Closing Ceremony- Awards- Tiffany Lynn and closing prayer- Rev. Mac Howington- Summerdale First Assembly of God

Many schools, businesses and churches participate every year and Beth Driver, team captain for Robertsdale Elementary School, is excited to be a part of such a great event.

“This is the first time RES has done Relay and we have 14 team members. We have raised $1,300 so far but with the “Jeans Day” we are having, I hope to reach $2,000. We have put cans in each classroom and my class has raised $200,” Driver said.

Even though Driver has participated in Relay for many years on different teams, this is the first year she has been a captain.

Money raised from Relay goes toward research for a cure. The research program was founded in 1946 and nearly $3 billion has been funded for the cause. And ACS is the largest nonprofit, non-governmental source of cancer research funding in the United States, according to the web site.

In the last five years, ACS has funded more than $11.5 million in grants in the Mid-South region and 178 $1,000 college scholarships have been given to cancer survivors, the web site said.

There are also two Hope Lodge facilities in Birmingham and Nashville that provide free housing to cancer patients who are receiving cancer treatment away from home. Construction on two more in Lexington, KY and New Orleans are underway.

Teams participating this year are:

Alabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy, Baldwin EMC, Coca-Cola Crusaders, Cote’s Music Store, Hare and the Tortoise, Lee Drug Store, RBC Bank Robertsdale, Regions Bank, RHS Interact Club, RHS Snack bar, Robertsdale Elementary, Robertsdale First Assembly of God, Rosinton Elementary, Summerdale Library, Team Kelly, Today’s Girl Organization and the Town of Summerdale.

For more information and to make an online donation, visit the web site: relayforlife.org/southbaldwincentral.