COLLEGEDALE, TN (April 15, 2010) –The first year Relay for Life in Collegedale raised over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS). A score of local and national organizations collaborated to bring off the successful fundraiser.

The 2010 Relay for Life presenting sponsor was North American Credit Services and Medical Services of Chattanooga. The company’s CEO and Chairman, Dallas S. Bunton, Sr. knows all too well how quickly cancer can turn one’s life upside down. "Eight years ago I was diagnosed with stage 3B Lung Cancer," Bunton says. "Words can never even begin to describe what went through my mind as the doctors each told me of the diagnoses, along with the less then positive outlook for recovery. Now as a cancer survivor, I enjoy this wonderful blessing of life every day."

According to a report from the ACS national office, this year alone, more than 1,600 Hamilton County residents will be diagnosed with cancer and over 700 will die from this disease. "Those are unacceptable numbers," says s Lauren Davenport, a representative of the local ACS chapter. "We celebrate Collegedale’s first benefit and look forward to future events that will help put an end to Cancer together."

Since in the early 1990’s and the beginnings of the ‘Relay’ movement, the mortality rate from cancer has dropped 14 percent globally.ACS services include an around-the-clock call center that receives over a million calls annually from individuals facing cancer. Additionally, the ACS has launched a clinical trials matching service at www.cancer.org that connects cancer patients with more than 64,000 different treatment options.