Clark Co. Relay For Life Kicks off On Saturday, June 19; Activities, Schedule Announced
Clark Co. Relay For Life Kicks off On Saturday, June 19; Activities, Schedule Announced
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Clark County “Survivors’ Lap” Puts Face on Fight Against Cancer
CLARK COUNTY, MO- June 3, 2010— The 10th annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Clark County kicks off at 6 p.m. June 19, 2010 and will last until 6 a.m. the next morning at the City Park in Kahoka. Relay is a celebration of cancer survivorship and a fun way to raise vital funds needed to help find a cure for cancer.
“My favorite part of Relay is always the Luminaria Ceremony, but I also like our lip syncing portion because it’s good clean fun and there’s a lot of competition,” Paula Fox, event chair, said. “It’s good just seeing everyone come out to show their support.”
In addition to highlighting Clark County’s finest lip syncing participants, Relay For Life of Clark County also features a basket auction. Each team or person from the community creates a themed basket to be auctioned off the night of Relay. A local church is also creating a puppet show for mission moments to educate the public about cancer.
“It’s really cute and educational. One of the puppets is a grandpa who is trying to quit smoking,” Fox said.
Some of the most fun activities are not even planned by Fox and her committee but are found from the different teams’ onsite fundraisers stationed along the walking path. Though most fundraising is done months before Relay, teams participate in selling creative food, objects and games so be sure to bring a little cash to donate. Funds raised during Relay For Life help support the American Cancer Society’s mission of eliminating cancer by helping people stay well, by helping people get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back.
Relay For Life will begin at 6 p.m. with a survivor lap to celebrate the lives of local Clark County residents who have survived cancer and is followed by a second lap to include all participants and start the Relay. The second ceremonial component to Relay For Life is the Luminaria Ceremony where participants illuminate the walking path with candles. This ceremony begins at 9 p.m. and serves as a time to reflect and remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor survivors as their names are displayed on screen.
Relay For Life is an overnight community event bringing together teams of families, and friends with the same goal of conquering cancer. Teams of walkers keep a continuous presence on the track throughout the night, walking in shifts to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Being that it is a 12 hour event, Fox and her committee has worked hard to plan a full agenda of entertainment to keep participants motivated into the early morning. As an incentive to walk all night, every lap completed earns a Mardi Grass necklace followed by awards at the end of Relay to the team who collects the most beads.
So far, Relay For Life events have raised $351 million at more than 5,000 sites throughout the United States and takes place in 20 other countries. For more information about how to become involved in Relay For Life it’s not too late to sign up. Survivor registration begins at 5:30 p.m. the night of Relay and other participants can simply show up that night. Contact Paula Fox, event chair, at 660-727-3344 for more information.
For more information about the American Cancer Society, call 1-800-227-2345, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit cancer.org.
