State Senator to Share Cancer Journey at Relay For Life

This year, more than 1.6 million people will be diagnosed with cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. For State Senator Ted Kennedy Jr. of Branford that statistic became real and very personal when he heard the words “you have cancer” and had to process what that would mean for life.

Ted was diagnosed with bone cancer when he was 12 years old and needed to have his right leg amputated. Ted underwent months of intensive physical therapy and was eventually able to resume an active life. After his experiences with surgery, two years of chemotherapy and learning how to walk with the use of a prosthesis, Ted understood how people like him faced a two-part struggle: the personal challenge of recovery and the public challenge of living in a society that did little to include people with disabilities.

On Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Noon, Senator Kennedy will join with other community members to celebrate at the annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Shoreline to raise funds and awareness in an effort to free the world from the pain and suffering of cancer. The ceremony will be held at Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Road, Branford, CT. Money raised will help the American Cancer Society provide free information and support for people facing the disease today, and fund cancer research that will help protect future generations.

All community members are invited to attend this event and can join a team, walk as individuals or make a donation to the Relay For Life of Shoreline. Visit RelayForLife.org or www.RelayForLife.org/Shoreline... to learn more about the event.

Founded by Dr. Gordy Klatt in Washington in 1985, the Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest fundraising event to save lives from cancer. Uniting communities across the globe, we celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action for lifesaving change. During Relay For Life events, members of each team take turns walking or running around the track or path. Teams participate in fundraising to support the event.

As the largest voluntary health organization in the world, the American Cancer Society is passionately committed to saving lives and ending suffering from cancer. The Society is helping people stay well, helping people get well, finding cures, and fighting back. Thanks in part to this work, more than 14 million cancer survivors and countless others who have avoided the disease will celebrate a birthday this year.