Relay For Life brings survivors, families together in Warren

Community members gathered at the St. Demetrios Community Center in Warren for this year’s Relay For Life—a heartfelt event uniting teams and survivors from Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties. Organized by the American Cancer Society, the event brought participants together to honor those affected by cancer and raise funds for vital support programs.

Jennifer Snodgrass, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society, said combining the counties into one event helped strengthen their efforts and bring people together.

"We just kind of wanted to bring the entire community together. We're all raising really critical and important funds for the American Cancer Society," Snodgrass said.

The day featured a survivor lap, a free lunch donated by Outback Steakhouse for survivors and caregivers, and a luminaria ceremony to honor lives touched by cancer. Snodgrass emphasized that Relay For Life is not just about fundraising—it’s also about showing those in the fight that they’re not alone.

"You're not in this fight alone. Not only do you have us as ACS, you have all these other volunteers and survivors and caregivers," she said.

One of those survivors, David Snyder, is a U.S. Air Force veteran and three-time cancer survivor. Snyder has battled rare skin cancer, colon cancer, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma—and said he keeps coming back to Relay For Life to show what’s possible.

"I've overcome all three cancers, and it's just a beautiful feeling. To do that first lap with all the other survivors—just pumps me up," Snyder said.

For Snyder, the event is also deeply personal. He has lost both a fiancée and a wife to ovarian cancer, and he continues to walk in their memory.

Relay chairman Phil O’Hara, who is also a cancer survivor, said that the purpose behind the event remains just as strong.

"Cancer is a 24-hour battle and it doesn't go away... so people have to deal with it day in and day out," O’Hara said.

This year’s goal is to raise $70,000, with funds supporting American Cancer Society programs such as the Hope Lodge, which offers free lodging to patients during treatment, and Road to Recovery, which provides transportation to and from care appointments.

As the day ended with hugs, remembrance, and hope, participants were reminded of the power of community.