The Regional Medical Center is once again the presenting sponsor for the annual Orangeburg County “Relay For Life”. As a special prelude to the Relay, the Regional Medical Center will honor all area cancer survivors at a reception on Saturday, April 4, from 2 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the Private Dining Rooms on RMC’s ground floor.

According to Joyce Axson, co-chair of the Survivor Committee for Orangeburg County, "Our survivors are our reason to Relay. Their courage inspires us all," said Axson. “I have lost family members and friends to cancer, and I know first hand how it feels to lose the battle. When I see a survivor who has fought the fight taking the ‘Survivor Lap’ on Relay night, it makes the loss a little easier to take. This year’s theme for Relay is ‘Celebrate,’ and I chose 'Valentine's Day' as the Survivor Reception’s theme because of the love it represents and the love I have for our survivors, caregivers and the Relay. Let's fight back and win together!”

Nancy Bolin, a 16-year breast cancer survivor and co-chair of the Relay For Life Survivor Committee, enjoys participating in the walk and in the Survivor Reception. She commented, "The Survivor Reception is about honoring survivors and their caregivers. It is a coming together of patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and are currently in treatment or in remission. It is fun to see so many survivors at the reception and to mingle with them sharing stories. I have also participated in Relays in Orangeburg since 1994, and it is a real treat to see the community come together in the fight against cancer. As a cancer survivor, I would like to thank RMC for honoring us in such a special way!"

There is no charge to attend the Survivor Reception, but registration is required. Please call Joyce Axson at 534-8606 or Nancy Bolin at 534-4012.

The 13th annual “Relay For Life” is scheduled for Friday, April 24 at Clark Middle School Track. The opening ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the Survivor Lap following at 7 p.m. For more information about the event, please contact one of the Relay tri-chairs, Delle Bolen (536-1944), Laura Fogle (395-4046) or Miller Barker (707-1026).