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Olympians To Help Kick Off Relay For Life

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By BOB FRYER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 9, 2008

OLDSMAR - OLDSMAR - Four Tampa Bay area Olympians will help kick off the Upper Tampa Bay Relay for Life on Friday at Tampa Bay Downs.

The event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and will include 20 or more teams that are to keep at least one team member walking or running on a course around the paddock and parking lot area of the facility from 6 p.m. Friday until 10 a.m. Saturday.

Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. Friday, when the Olympians will participate in the first lap, known as the Survivors Lap. All cancer survivors are invited to be honorary guests in the Survivors Lap.

Event organizer Bob Argus said swimmer Mitzi Tighe, diver Barbara Gilders Dudeck, figure skater Jim Millns and handball player Bryant Johnson will be available after the opening lap to sign autographs and talk to people at the event. Argus said swimmer Brooke Bennett, a three-time gold medalist and a native of Hillsborough County, has been invited, but he is not sure whether she will attend.

There will also be an area where people can view motivational videos of Olympic events supplied by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Once it gets dark, luminaria will be placed around the course for the Ceremony of Hope. The luminaria will celebrate the lives of those who have survived cancer and honor the lives of those lost to the disease.

"It is a rather moving experience," Argus said.

Throughout the night, members from each team will be continuously on the course as a reminder that cancer never sleeps.

There will be a survivors' dinner Saturday night and, for the first time this year, a survivors' breakfast the next morning. The breakfast, catered by Aston Gardens, is at 8 a.m., and cancer survivors are encouraged to return for this. Also new this year will be a poker tournament at 8 p.m. Friday in the card room at the facility. Proceeds from the tournament will go to support the relay.

For information, call Argus at (813) 818-9850.

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