JFE Shoji Group company CEMCO, LLC participated in the American Cancer Society (ACS) charity event Relay For Life on June 1 at Long Beach POA Park in Long Beach, California.

Relay For Life began in 1985 when a doctor ran around a track for twenty-four hours to raise donations for the ACS from friends and family who ran along with him. The doctor raised $27,000 in one day, attracting worldwide attention. Today, Relay For Life events are held at some 2,460 locations in more than 34 countries, raising the equivalent of more than \13.7 billion in donations annually.

CEMCO invited friends and family of employees, who formed the forty-person Team CEMCO Steel Strong. The participants spent the twelve hours walking the track while talking with their fellow team members and people who are living life with zest despite facing a cancer diagnosis. The event began at 9 a.m. and ended at 9 p.m.

After the Long Beach event, CEMCO donated one dollar to ACS for every lap members of the team completed. The company also raised money through the sale of original T-shirts, flower bouquets, gift basket raffle tickets and other items. Through these efforts and employee donations, the team was able to raise $8,016—60 percent more than the original goal of $5,000.

Although this was CEMCO’s first Relay For Life, the company will continue to contribute to society by proactively participating in such charity events.