Relay for Life celebrates 25 years next month

By Sarah Shurge – Relay for Life of Westland-Western Wayne County (WWWC) is celebrating 25 years of fighting cancer and creating friendship.
“Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way – whether it’s a family member, friend, coworker, neighbor, or themselves,” said Meriem Kadi, Relay for Life WWWC Community/Media & Sponsorships Lead. “We’re better together. If we team up and do it together, we’re going to succeed, rise above, and defeat this c-word.”
Relay For Life is more than a walk, it’s a chance to come together in your local community to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against every cancer.
“When you say Relay, people think it’s a run, but it’s not, it’s a walk,” said Kadi. “People can come and go as they please.”
Relay for Life WWWC will celebrate 25 years on Saturday, June 7th, from 11:00 a.m. – midnight at Westland Farmers Market (Tattan Park, 1901 N. Carlson, Westland).
The day will be filled with a live DJ, dancing, bounce house, face painting, food, entertainment, themed laps, and a luminaria ceremony.
Following the opening ceremony with a survivor speaker, survivors hold a banner and walk the first lap to get the relay started. Survivors are then treated to luncheon.
In honor of 25 years, there will be a birthday theme this year where you can decorate your campsite for the theme. There are different themed laps throughout the day, including a lap dedicated for first responders.
At nightfall, the Luminaria Ceremony is held. These homemade paper lanterns, decorated with the names of loved ones, are lit in honor and in memory of a life touched by cancer. The ceremony includes a moment of silence for those lives lost.
“Relay raises money for all cancers. Not just one, but all,” said Kadi. “A lot of the money stays within the community. Yes, it raises money for research, but it’s also helping people afford rides to their appointments/chemo. We’re helping in every way we can.”
There are four ways you can Relay:
1. Sign up – You can choose to lead a team in your community, join an existing team, or participate solo.

May 2025

2. Recruit friends and family – However you choose to participate, get friends and family to join you.
3. Raise money – Send emails and texts, set up a Facebook Fundraiser, and more.
4. Celebrate – Come to a Relay event to support the community, honor survivors, and celebrate the impact.
There are currently about 20 teams registered for Relay for Life WWWC.
Kadi started a team – Family and Friends for Life – nearly 25 years ago after her father passed away from colon cancer in 1999.
“I feel like a small fish in this big pond, but I felt like I just had to do something. I couldn’t sit back. This is a small part of how I can help,” said Kadi.
Kadi’s mother is a breast cancer survivor and Kadi’s sister was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago and is still battling.
“We want everyone to be survivors,” said Kadi.
In May 1985, Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising money to help the American Cancer Society.
Friends, family, and patients watched and supported him as he walked and ran more than 83.6 miles and raised $27,000 through pledges to help save lives from cancer.
That was the first Relay for Life.

The Relay for Life WWWC Event Leadership Team

“This is about perseverance. For 25 years, we [Relay for Life WWWC] have stayed together this long,” said Kadi. “Any money we raise will be significant and help in some way. We’re there for everyone. We walk for the people we don’t know.”
The Relay for Life WWWC Event Leadership Team is: Carol Nelius: Chair (also a cancer survivor), Meriem Kadi: Community/Media & Sponsorships Lead, Kathleen Russell: Luminaria Ceremony /Secretary/Creative Lead, Mary Hazel: Social Media Lead, Kathy Graham: Survivor Luncheon Lead (also a cancer survivor), Rhonda Graham: American Cancer Society -Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Lead, Ashleigh Tatroe: Team Engagement Lead, Jill Lezotte-Kates: Fundraising & Sponsorships Lead, and Debi Geotz: Event Silent Auction Lead.
“It really takes a village. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes. We think about Relay 24/7 365. It takes a lot of work,” said Kadi. “It really helps us to get sponsorships. We’re so thankful we have a community that has helped us every step of the way to keep going.”
For more information about Relay for Life WWWC, visit relayforlife.org/westlandwaynemi or you can find them on Facebook by searching “Relay for Life Westland-Wayne, MI”
“Relay is all about bringing awareness, early detection, and getting your check-ups,” said Kadi. “We’re trying to get the word out there as much as we can.” Be a part of the global community of passionate supporters and join the celebration of 25 years at Relay for Life WWWC!