McKinney Main Street helps kick off the 2010 Relay For Life

City of McKinney Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

McKinney Main Street helps kick off the 2010 Relay For Life with event
Community Kick-Off calls for community support for American Cancer Society

McKINNEY, TEXAS (Jan. 12, 2010) – McKinney Main Street has partnered with Relay For Life to host the 2010 Community Kick-off in Historic Downtown McKinney. The event will take place at the McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Friday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. The Community Kick-off is a way to educate potential participants about the official Relay event, which will be held on April 30 through May 1 from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. at the Ballfields at Craig Ranch.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) national fundraising event to raise money to fight all types of cancer in children and adults, men and women. It is a volunteer-driven, local community event in which teams of 8 to15 members commit to camp overnight, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with each participant raising a minimum of $100 through pledges and fundraising activities. More than 91 cents of every dollar raised at Relay goes to the ACS to fund cancer research and patient services that can directly benefit McKinney residents.

“McKinney Main Street is honored to support and participate in such an important cause,” said Ty Lake, Main Street Program Director. “So many people have been affected by cancer. With more than 128 businesses located in Historic Downtown McKinney, it made perfect since to launch the Kick-Off downtown and do our part to help increase community awareness.”

The Community Kick-off is free and open to the general public. It will provide opportunities for event attendees to learn how to form a team, sign up as a survivor or caregiver, purchase luminaria, become a sponsor or serve on one of several committees. Relay For Life officials will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.

Mayor Brian Loughmiller will welcome the crowd, and Jon Christopher Davis of Lone Star Attitude will take center stage to perform a concert during the evening’s awareness activities. Davis, a McKinney-based singer/songwriter, will introduce the theme song which he recently composed for Relay For Life.

“McKinney’s Relay For Life has been named the #1 Relay out of 54 in the North Texas Region,” said Becky Neeley, Relay for Life Co-Chair. “McKinney’s Relay is larger than those held in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. In its first eight years, Relay For Life of McKinney has raised almost $2.4 million dollars for the fight against cancer, and we are extremely grateful to our wonderful community for the ongoing support.” McKinney’s Relay For Life event has been chosen as one of six Texas sites to enroll participants in a nationwide Cancer Prevention Study which will help the American Cancer Society understand genetic and lifestyle factors that cause and prevent cancer. For more information about McKinney’s Relay please visit www.mckinneyrfl.com. For more information regarding this event, please contact McKinney Main Street at 972-547-2660.

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About McKinney
McKinney, Texas, is unique by nature. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., McKinney has a current population of 126,500. Incorporated in 1848, the city is located 30 miles north of Dallas and is the county seat of Collin County. McKinney offers rolling hills, lush trees, a historic downtown square and unique neighborhoods and developments, and it was recently ranked as one of the Top 10 Best Places to Move by Forbes Magazine. Visit the city’s Web site at www.mckinneytexas.org.

Media contact: Anna Folmnsbee, afolmnsb@mckinneytexas.org, 972-547-7525