Mineral County Relay for Life begins June 28

Mineral County’s 2013 Relay For Life event takes place Friday evening to Saturday morning, June 28-29, at the Superior High School Track. The Opening Ceremony for the over-night event begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. New this year, a Flame of Hope will be lit during the Opening Ceremony and light the night throughout the event.

Relay For Life is a representation of the journey a cancer patient embarks on...from the moment they are diagnosed, through their treatment and until the sun rises as a symbol of hope. Relay For Life isn’t about running...it’s a Relay of support, where teams take turns walking and sleeping. It’s a chance for a community to come together and keep vigil for those who need rest and to take steps together in the fight against cancer. This year 15 teams, each comprised of between 4-15 participants, will camp out and take turns walking the track. For those who are unable to walk but would still like to participate, ‘Rockerville’ is available to rock their laps rather than walk them.

This year’s theme is ‘Carnival of Hope’. Along with face-painting, juggling and other outside activities, carnival booths inside the school will provide entertainment, games and prizes for the children. Relayers will dress in costumes throughout the night for various lap themes including a conga line, 100th ACS Celebration, glow-in-the-dark, and light up the night. People are also encouraged to wear purple to commemorate the town of Superior and Mineral County’s second annual ‘Paint the Town/County Purple Day’ on June 28. Purple is the universal symbol for cancer survivors and also the official color of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. All survivors will be honored with a purple luminaria during the Luminaria Ceremony which begins at 10:00 p.m.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend and show their support for Relay For Life. This year’s event includes:

• Survivor Reception for survivors, their families and Caregivers - 5:00 p.m.

• Opening Ceremony, including Survivor and Team Laps – 6:30 p.m.

• Silent Auction - 6:00 p.m. to Midnight

• Entertainment including music by Fiddlers, bluegrass by Richard Worst, a DJ and Karaoke

• Garden of Hope – a special area dedicated to caregivers

• Memory Tent – filled with photos and memorabilia of loved ones lost

• Luminaria Ceremony - 10:00 p.m.

• Final Laps (everyone is asked to return to walk together) – 6:30 a.m. Saturday

• Fight Back and Closing Ceremonies - 7:00 a.m. Saturday

The Fight Back Ceremony will be entertaining, engaging, and inspiring and everyone is invited to attend.

Fundraising will continue throughout the night with many opportunities for the public to give their support. The Silent Auction, which runs from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, will include many wonderful and unique items as well as a large number of gift certificates and other items. The Relay Store will be open for business throughout the night and this year will be stocked with hand crafted and homemade items made by team members. All proceeds from the Store and Carnival will go to the American Cancer Society to help fund cancer research, prevention and education, and programs and services available to Mineral County cancer patients such as the Road To Recovery and Patient Lodging Programs.

For more information about Relay, to dedicate a Luminaria, Garden of Hope Flower or add photos and or mementos to the Memory Tent please contact Peggy Temple, Event Chair, at 822-0922 or visit www.mineralcountyrelay.org.