County's Relay for Life begins Friday
Cancer Society fundraiser
Comet staff report

Carroll County's sixth annual Relay for Life will be Friday and Saturday at the Carroll Junior-Senior High School track.

The fundraising event begins at 5 p.m. on Friday and ends at noon on Saturday. It involves teams camping out, walking laps on the track, socializing, and participating in planned activities. The teams have had fundraisers to support their efforts.

Families and individuals can also come to the track and walk, and make a donation to the cause. Anyone can come and cheer on the walkers, eat at the Kiwanis breakfast at 7 a.m. Saturday, buy ice cream from the Lions, and support other fundraising activities.

A full schedule of ceremonies, themed laps, contests, and activities is planned.

The opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, with an invocation, singing of the National Anthem, balloon release by cancer survivors, and the traditional Survivor Walk.

The first lap for Relay Team Walkers will begin at 6:30. This year there will be a Rookie Lap (for first-time walkers) at 7 p.m.

Also at 7 will be the "Miss"ter Relay Contest. Misters dress up as Misses, all for a good cause. A winner is crowned at 8 p.m.

The impressive Luminaria Ceremony begins at dusk. People walk on the track and camp out all night. There will be a judging for best campsite.

At various times throughout the event, special activities are planned, such as a cake walk on the track, social scavenger hunt, cancer fact bingo, karaoke, and euchre tourney.

Carroll cheerleaders will perform at 7:15 p.m. Friday and again at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

At 6 a.m. on Saturday, there will be rooster crowing, hog calling, and husband calling contests.

Firefighters' tug of war between local departments will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Also scheduled Saturday morning will be a corn hole tourney and wheelchair races at 10 a.m. and Uno tourney and gutter races at 10:30.

The closing ceremony will be Saturday at 11:30 a.m., with everyone joining in on a Victory Lap.

As the Society's signature event, Relay has been bringing cancer survivors and anyone touched by the disease together since 1985. The first Relay For Life was held in Tacoma, Washington when its founder, Dr. Gordy Klatt, decided to run for 24 hours at his local high school's track with the idea that cancer never sleeps. That year Dr. Klatt raised about $27,000 for the American Cancer Society and invited teams of friends and families to join him in the future.

Today, more than 4,200 communities across America host their own Relay For Life and the event has raised more one billion dollars for the fight against cancer. As the most successful not-for-profit event in America, Relay For Life provides a platform for raising cancer awareness and connecting communities to the programs and services of the American Cancer Society.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information anytime, call toll free 1.800.ACS.2345 or visit www.cancer.org.