Relay for Life raises funds for cancer fight

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The 2014 Relay for Life is right around the corner, with activities to begin this Friday, May 2, with the Torch Walk that begins at the YWCA of Van Wert County at 5 p.m. tomorrow and ends 18 hours later with a closing ceremony at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.

As organizers stress, Relay for Life is at once a fun event, while also providing a meaningful experience for those participating. That’s because Relay for Life is three separate activities: a fundraiser for cancer research, a way to honor cancer survivors and also to memorialize those who have lost their fight with the dreaded disease.

Following the Torch Walk, Relay for Life’s primary events include an opening ceremony that officially begins activities at the fairgrounds at 6 p.m. Friday, with the Survivors Lap to take place at 6:30 that evening.

A luminaria ceremony will take place at 10 p.m. as a way to remember people who have succumbed to cancer, as well as support those who currently have the disease and to honor those who have won their fight against cancer.

Several Relay for Life teams also held their own individual events, including a fundraiser conducted by First Federal Savings & Loan that ended with First Federal President Brian Renner taking a number of pies in the face – all for a good cause.

Vantage Career Center held a number of events prior to Friday’s Relay for Life, and a bench made by Vantage student Ben Schnipke will be raffled off this weekend.

In addition to the many activities taking place this weekend at the fairgrounds, a number of businesses and community organizations could participate in the “Paint the Town Purple” activity, which allows businesses and other community members to show their awareness of, and support for, the fight against cancer.

During this year’s Relay for Life itself, special activities will be held hourly throughout the event, including a “Cruising ‘Til a Cure” car show from 5-8 p.m., a chair-ity silent auction where decorated chairs are auctioned off, a Miss Relay pageant, a Movie Theme Lap, a Box Car Race (four racers, one box car, one egg and one lap), a Limbo Lap, a Late Night Lip Sync/Karaoke Contest, a Frozen T-Shirt Contest, a Crazy Hat Lap, a Pajama Lap and Pancake Breakfast, a Cancer Colors Lap and a Glow in the Dark Lap.

A number of groups and individuals will provide free entertainment for the event as well, including dancers from Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks, Gospel group Trinity, Dooley Drive, and Randy Long, as well as music played by disc jockey Benji and the Beard.

Closing ceremonies will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, with the end of the event at noon that day.