Relay for Life set for Friday

Published 12:10 pm Wednesday, June 13, 2018

For the 22nd year, Clark County residents will gather to raise funds to support programs to make sure “no one faces cancer alone.”

Relay for Life of Clark County is set for 6 p.m. to midnight Friday at the Campbell Junior High School track located at 620 Boone Ave.

The event’s goal is to raise $60,000 to fund research, programs and services through the American Cancer Society.

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So far, $35,000 has been raised by numerous volunteers and teams throughout the community, according to ACS Community Development Manager Becky Manley.

More will be raised through Relay, where teams will set up tents to host games and other fundraisers.

Manley said this year’s theme is decades, and teams will decorate their tents for the evening to reflect the decade of their choice.

“We’ve got teams decorating for the 60s, 70s, 80s … whatever you can think of,” she said. “Some teams offer games, others sell food.”

Manley said there will be other activities offered throughout the night.

The event will kick off with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m., which includes the National Anthem, guest speakers, a survivor’s lap, caregivers’ and team lap.

Throughout the night there will be dancing, judging of campsites, a cake walk, trivia, a scavenger hunt and other games.

At 10 p.m., the luminaria service will be observed. Manley said the luminary is a time for people to recognize those who have been affected by cancer in their lives by purchasing a luminaria in honor or in memory of those who have battled cancer.

“They can purchase the luminaria, fill out the bag with the name of the person they want to honor and we light a candle inside,” she said. “This year, we are also offering special lanterns with a shepherd’s hook and nameplate for $100. These are purple Moroccan glass lanterns that can be taken home after the event.”

After the luminaria names are read, participants will take a silent lap around the track.

According to the American Cancer Society, “Each team is asked to have a member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps. Cancer patients don’t stop because they’re tired, and for one night, neither do we.”

All money raised through the event supports cancer research, patient care services, education and prevention initiatives through ACS.

Manley said the event is open to the community and she encourages attendance.

“The vast majority of people have been affected by cancer,” she said. “If there’s something we can do to raise more money to find a cure or in the meantime to find medicine or other services to cope, why wouldn’t we?”

For more about Relay or the ACS, visit acsevents.org.

About Whitney Leggett

Whitney Leggett is managing editor of The Winchester Sun and Winchester Living magazine. To contact her, email whitney.leggett@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0049.

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