By Heather Ruenz
Staff Writer
The American Cancer Society is calling on all members of the greater Walworth County community to participate in the Relay For Life Friday night.
The Relay For Life program is a community-based event where teams and individuals set up – in this case at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn – and walk around a track or path. Each team puts forth an effort to have at least one participant on the track at all times. Following the opening ceremony, cancer survivors and caregivers take celebratory first laps to start each event.
This year’s honorary survivor is Sarah O’Connor. She’ll talk about her journey during the opening ceremony at the June 22 event and will then lead the survivor lap to kick off the Relay.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. and end at approximately midnight. It’s held in the midway area at the fairgrounds and in the event of inclement weather, inside the Activity Center.
“The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all,” said Jessica Lemke, regional manager.
“Many participants are our family, friends and neighbors who have faced cancer themselves. Each new team that registers brings us one step closer to saving more lives,” Lemke added.
Founded by Dr. Gordy Klatt in Washington in 1985, the Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have been touched by cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action for lifesaving change. Symbolizing the battle waged around the clock by those facing cancer, the event can last up to 24 hours and empowers communities to take a stand against cancer.
Millions of dollars are raised each year at events throughout the United States to help the American Cancer Society attack cancer in dozens of ways, each of them critical to achieving a world without cancer – from developing breakthrough therapies to building supportive communities, from providing empowering resources to deploying activists to raise awareness.
Funds raised through Relay events support the American Cancer Society 24/7 cancer help line and free rides to chemo for cancer patients.
Schedule of events
Below is the tentative schedule for Relay for Life of Walworth County, including several themed laps:
5 p.m. – event and silent auction opens
6 p.m. – opening ceremony and scavenger hunt begins
6:30 p.m. – celebrate lap
7 p.m. – rock star lap
7:15 p.m. – egg hunt starts
7:30 p.m. – fairytale /superhero theme lap
7:45 p.m. – egg hunt ends
8 p.m. – beach/tourist lap
8:30 p.m. – western theme
9 p.m. – PJ (pajamas) lap
9:15 p.m. – dress up relay
9:30 p.m. – purple/passion lap and silent auction closes
10 p.m. – luminaria ceremony (bags in honor or memory of those touched by cancer are illuminated. Bags can be purchased earlier that night and decorated, colored on, etc. to personalize them)
11 p.m. – glow lap and scavenger hunt ends
11:30 p.m. – dance lap
Midnight – closing ceremony
Teams and individuals can sign up for the Relay For Life event in advance by visiting cancer.org or calling 1-800-227-2345. Participants are also welcome to sign up on site that night.
Find more details about the local event through the website or by following Relay for Life of Walworth County on Facebook, which also includes links to the official site.
About the ACS
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community.
As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to the progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year.
“We’re determined to finish the fight against cancer. We’re finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more,” according to a statement from the ACS.
