LIMA, OH (WLIO) - It was a powerful evening at Spartan Stadium as the region gathered to show their support for survivors of cancer.
The community came together for the 30th Lima Relay for Life to help raise money for the American Cancer Society on Friday evening. The collected funds will go toward cancer research and education, along with supporting cancer patients and their families. The evening started with the Mercy Health-St. Rita's cancer survivors celebration dinner inside Lima Senior, followed by the survivor lap around Spartan Stadium. Whether at dinner or on the track, the sight of the community coming together is meaningful for everyone, including cancer survivor Kenneth Wills.
"July of 2016, I found out that I had bladder cancer, and that's when I started treatments. Relay for Life is-it's an unbelievable organization, what they do for all the cancer survivors, the caregivers, everybody involved, because it's not just a one person that goes through this; it's the whole family; it's the whole community—everybody is affected by this, and I think one way or another, we're all affected by cancer. And to be a part of the team I'm on... it's been like a close-knit family," shares Kenneth Wills, a cancer survivor.
Over the past 30 years, the Lima Relay for Life has raised around $2.5 million. In addition, Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith attended Friday night's relay and declared a proclamation stating June 14th, 2024, as Relay for Life of Lima Day.
