Community Corner
Oak Forest Relay For Life Kicks Off Fundraising Season
Relay For Life committee members and team members gathered at Oak Forest High School for the first official event of the Relay For Life season to begin building teams and excitement.
Oak Forest Relay For Life is still 160 days away, but for committee members and past team members it's never too early to kick off the season and begin fundraising.
“Today is the official start of the Oak Forest Relay Season and our first official meeting,” said Val Shalati, a participant in Relay For Life and also head of the Luminarie Committee.
The event, held at, featured chili and banana splits while showcasing fundraising options and Relay For Life activities for both new and returning relayers.
Find out what's happening in Oak Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The organization also received some very encouraging praise for the level of success they have achieved in just five years.
The group learned they have already raised $426,192 since they began and will almost certainly break the half-million-dollar mark this year. In addition, the group received the only national award given by the American Cancer Society to Relay For Life teams.
Find out what's happening in Oak Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Out of 3,000 Relay For Life event held across the country, Oak Forest was given the Survivor/Caregiver Committee Award, for having the largest number of participating survivors (67) in the event's history.
While outlining this year's goals, Co-Chair Paula Kubilius said Oak Forest Relay hopes to have 100 survivors participating in this year's event. The group also set a fundraising goal of $106,000, and a participation goal of 530 relayers on 47 teams.
“These are great goals, just awesome,” said George Lubben, a cancer survivor and team captain.
Lubben has been a survivor for six years and said that while he was fighting cancer the American Cancer Society, along with his family and friends helped provide the support needed to overcome and move on.
Lubben and his wife, Sara, presented the Oak Forest Relay For Life with the award from the American Cancer Society and said expressed that everyone involved helped bring the award to Oak Forest.
Kubilius, a cancer survivor as well, also told the cafeteria that although the word caregiver technically means someone who physically cared for a person with cancer, in reality it includes everyone who helps in the fight.
“By coming to these events and meetings, you're a caregiver,” she said. “This is one big family and I love all of you so much.
“This is really all about sticking together and helping one another and those touched by cancer—I've been there, and we need the [support].”
The Lubbens, Shalati and Kubilius all agreed that the feeling on the night of the relay is one of hope and excitement, and those who haven't been should consider getting involved.
“So many people are there and it is so much,” said Lubben.
Shalati said the event provides festivities throughout the night and is fun for all members of the family, and is also open to anyone wants to get out and make a difference.
“It's true that the majority of our members and teams are people who have, in some way, been touched by cancer,” said Shalati. “That being said, I'm not sure there is really anyone who doesn't know someone who has somehow been affected by it.”
Oak Forest Relay For Life is currently recruiting new teams and relayers for the event on June 24 and is a 12-hour walk, extending through the night to help raise money for the American Cancer Society.
More information is available on facebook, at the American Cancer Society website or by calling Paula Kubilius at (708) 790-2059.
