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Cancer Fight Seeks to Paint Palm Bay Purple

By  //  March 25, 2014

Relay for Life starts April 5-6 at Bayside High

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — City of Palm Bay Customer Service Representative Hannah Poirier survived stage 2 breast cancer after being diagnosed in 2008 and she is now using that experience to help others fight and survive as part of the Palm Bay Relay for Life committee in support of the American Cancer Society. 

The annual Relay for Life is being held April 5-6 at Bayside High School. To help promote the event, Councilwoman Michele Paccione, who is the event chair, made a special proclamation at Thursday’s council meeting. Joined by more than a dozen supporters, including Poirier, Paccione read the proclamation and encouraged the public to show support through, “Paint the Town Purple” a weeklong event prior to the relay that seeks to turn Palm Bay into a sea of purple ribbons, balloons, lights, banners and anything that will show support for the cause. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
The annual Relay for Life is being held April 5-6 at Bayside High School. To help promote the event, Councilwoman Michele Paccione, who is the event chair, made a special proclamation at Thursday’s council meeting. Joined by more than a dozen supporters, including Poirier, Paccione read the proclamation and encouraged the public to show support through, “Paint the Town Purple” a weeklong event prior to the relay that seeks to turn Palm Bay into a sea of purple ribbons, balloons, lights, banners and anything that will show support for the cause. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

The annual Relay for Life is being held April 5-6 at Bayside High School.  To help promote the event, Councilwoman Michele Paccione, who is the event chair, made a special proclamation at Thursday’s council meeting.  Joined by more than a dozen supporters, including Poirier, Paccione read the proclamation and encouraged the public to show support through, “Paint the Town Purple” a weeklong event prior to the relay that seeks to turn Palm Bay into a sea of purple ribbons, balloons, lights, banners and anything that will show support for the cause.

Hannah Poirier
Hannah Poirier

Purple is the signature color for the Relay for Life.  “We want to encourage everyone everywhere to join us for this important cause,” Councilwoman Paccione announced during the proclamation.  “Anything we can do to help find a cure and increase survivability is a good thing and in this effort we are united in the fight.”

The Relay for Life is an 18-hour team walk that brings people and the community together to celebrate survivorship and raise money for cancer research and programs. According to the latest statistics the five year survival rate for all cancers diagnosed between 2001 and 2007 (the most recent data available) is 67%, up from 49% in 1975-1977.

“The improvement in survival reflects progress in diagnosing certain cancers at an earlier stage and improvements in treatment,” Paccione read from the proclamation.“Lets ‘Paint the Town Purple’ and show our support for Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.”

Relay for Life is the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society which is the largest private source for cancer research and funding in the nation. As part of this year’s relay event, the Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting “Movies in the Park” with a special 10 p.m. free showing of The Incredibles.