Choose Your Weapon: Hoops or Laps

All over Elmhurst, the fund-raising has kicked into high gear for this year's Relay for Life events.

If you've never been to a Relay for Life overnight event, it's the stuff memories are made of—a blend of inspiration, hope and camaraderie all centered around the fight against cancer. It's difficult to hold back emotions as the survivors take their lap around the track to start the event, or the luminaria is lit in honor of those who have been lost.

And we've all lost someone we love to this terrible disease, or at least know someone who has.

Benefitting the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life is now more than 25 years old. The events involve an all-night trek around a track by dozens—or even hundreds—of participants who have formed teams and collected pledges toward their efforts. Team members take turns walking the track for 24 hours, while food and games keep them busy in between.

Elmhurst College

Langhorst Stadium will stay up all night beginning at 6 p.m. this Friday, April 20. Participants will wrap it up at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21. As of Monday, there were 386 participants, 49 teams signed up and $25,389 raised. To donate, click here.

Or, to sign up for the relay, click here.

You've gotta love those crazy kids.

Perhaps a Park?

Close on the heels of the Elmhurst College fund-raiser, with more than a month and a half left to bring in the donations, an Elmhurst Park District Relay has already raised more than $18,000.

As of Monday, 239 participants, 42 teams, had signed up to hit the field at Berens Park, 493 N. Oaklawn Ave., at 6:30 p.m. June 8.

Sign up here to start a team, join a team or register as an individual.

3 On 3 for Cancer Free

Relays are by no means the only way to get involved locally.

A few years ago, 52-year-old Elmhurst resident Rick Williams, self-proclaimed gym rat and basketball junkie, founded a 3-on-3 tournament to raise money for Relay for Life.

Rick plays basketball three days a week (and sometimes Saturdays) at 6 a.m. at the Elmhurst YMCA with a bunch of guys over 40—some well over 40, according to his wife, Trish. What better way to make a difference than by turning something you love into a way to help save lives?

The first year, 3-on-3 teams raised $4,000; the second, $6,000; and this year, the goal is $10,000—which is totally do-able.

Participation is increasing, but more help is needed. The 3-on-3 begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at York High School Field House, and it goes until 4 p.m., so you don't have to stay up all night. There are brackets for all age groups—from third grade to the above-40 "senior" category, in this double-elimination tourney. There's also a 3-point shooting contest, and prizes will be awarded in each division.

Entry fee is $30 per player, and everyone gets a T-shirt, water bottle and entry into a raffle for an iPad. All the information can be found here.

For quick and easy online registration, just click here.

Are you motivated to raise money for the American Cancer Society? Tell us why in the comments.