Cancer never stops and neither should the efforts to combat it.

Even though the actual event is over, the efforts of the various Union County Relay for Life teams to raise money are continuing, the most recent being a bake sale by The United Methodist Women of Grace United Methodist Church to raise money for the church’s relay team. The money raised by the sale will be added to the $95,341 raised by the Relay for Life teams as of April 30 and go toward relay’s goal of raising $100,000 by Aug. 31.

We not only hope they meet their goal, but surpass it and, more importantly, continue their efforts against cancer beyond Aug. 31 because, unfortunately, cancer will not disappear from the face of the earth on that date. The effort against cancer must continue beyond Aug. 31 because cancer is a continuing threat to each and every member of the human race. Defeating it will require many things, not the least of which is money to fund counseling, treatment, research and — one day soon, we hope — a cure. That means more bake sales and other fundraising efforts by the Relay for Life teams, their supporters and others who understand the gravity of this struggle against an enemy that has remained a threat for far too long.

The effort to defeat cancer must concern all of us because, first, we are all at-risk of becoming its victims. Second, while the Relay for Life teams and their supporters may hold the fundraisers, it is up to the rest of us to make them a success by giving generously. By making donations and buying the baked goods, we are contributing not only to the success of those fundraising efforts, we are helping to bring closer to reality the dream of a cancer-free world.

On April 30, the Relay for Life teams, as they have in the past, went an entire night without sleep, symbolizing the fact that cancer never sleeps. Just as the disease does not sleep, neither does it take a day or even a minute off, but constantly pursues its prey. The effort against it can never cease, either, and that’s why we hope the dedication — and the public response — that made April 30 such a success will continue through Aug. 31 and beyond.