Terrebonne Relay for Life raises much-needed dollars for cancer research

The Terrebonne Relay for Life event has been the largest and most lucrative in the state for three years running, and event organizers hope for a fourth such recognition when the 2015 walk takes place.

It’s set for Saturday, April 25, at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Last year, the event – and donations leading up to the event – raised $423,000. With about $150,000 already in the bank five weeks prior to the event, organizers say they’re well on their way to topping that number.

And according to American Cancer Society Community Manager Becky Breaux, it’s because the community and businesses are dedicated to providing funding for cancer research.

“I don’t know that there’s anybody in our community that doesn’t know someone, that doesn’t have a family member, a personal friend or they themselves have not been touched by cancer, and I just think that the passion and the drive is there,” she said.

Shamrock Energy Solutions is on board as the event’s first Presenting Level Sponsor, providing $20,000 for the event, and more than 80 teams and 1,100 participants had signed as of press time.

At the event, every team is encouraged to have at least one member walking the track throughout the event.

“The whole concept of that was that cancer never stops. You’re taking the same walk as a cancer patient from the time of diagnosis through treatment and then, hopefully, into remission,” Breaux said.

Teams have tents set up surrounding the track, where participants can purchase food and drinks, with proceeds going toward the cause. There will also be games, raffles, a live auction and activities such as a petting zoo, rock-climbing wall, bounce houses and mechanical bulls.

If it sounds more like a festival than a fundraiser, that’s because organizers said the event has taken on a festival feel. Local favorite Southern Cross, Yum Yum – an ensemble of Chabert physicians – and Day Like This – an alternative group – will take the stage.

“We’re in south Louisiana. We’re used to fairs and festivals, so we make it a lot of fun. It’s family oriented,” said Terrebonne event leader M.J. Plaisance. “We have a lot of kids activities to try and keep people engaged, but we also connect them to the mission. We offer them a lot of information about lifestyle changes, early detection, prevention.”

Plaisance and his wife Dawn lost their son, Evan, to cancer 22 years ago. In addition to running the Terrebonne event, Plaisance serves as the leader of the Southeast Louisiana Territory of Relay for Life events. However, he said the one in Houma is the one he focuses the most energy toward.

“People really need to know that we do make a local impact,” Plaisance said. “The dollars raised help support things like the cancer research center at Chabert Medical Center, the Hope Lodge in New Orleans.

Locally, we provide rides for cancer patients to their treatments. We just try to do a lot of these things that help incur the high dollar cost of going into treatment. It’s an emotional thing in itself, but it can also be very expensive so a lot of these dollars come right back to the community.”

People can sign up for the event by logging onto https://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY15MS?pg=entry&- fr_id=64341 or simply showing up April 25. Participation is free, but donations are being accepted online and, of course, at the event.

Breaux said the event itself typically raises about $100,000, not including the pre-event donation.

“I would like to invite everybody to come out and join us and have a good time,” Breaux said. “It truly is a phenomenal event to experience but also a great way to spend a Saturday evening with your kids and your family all at the same time while you’re helping to find that cure for cancer.”