Relay for Life set for Friday

Published 12:36 pm Thursday, June 6, 2019

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The 22nd annual Lincoln County Relay for Life kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in support of the American Cancer Society.

Dozens of relay teams as well as hundreds of local and area citizens are expected to gather for the six-hour event at the Fairgrounds, located south of Stanford on U.S. 27, to celebrate those who have survived their battle with cancer; and remember and celebrate the memory of those who were lost to cancer.

“We hope to see everyone at Relay for Life on Friday evening to help us ‘Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back,’” Lincoln County Relay for Life event chair Donya Saylor said. “We will recognize and celebrate our survivors and caregivers. Later in the evening, we will remember those we lost to cancer and honor those who are still battling cancer. We will continue to fight to find a cure.”

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Relay for Life is a major fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (ACS).

The Lincoln Relay for Life raised $75,980.99 last year to aid in the fight to find a cure, pushing local total donations over the last 21 years past the $1.5-million mark. Saylor says this year’s goal is to raise $85,000.

“Thank you to our communities, businesses, sponsors, teams, volunteers, and committee for everything you do for Lincoln County Relay for Life. We appreciate your continued support year after year.” Saylor said.

All donations raised for ACS go to funding life-saving cancer research, patient support services, prevention and education information and detection and treatment programs.

This year’s Relay for Life theme centers around Dr. Seuss and is titled, “No cancer here. No cancer there. No cancer anywhere.”

Relay committee members and teams will begin setup early Friday, but the public relay will open at 6 p.m., with the opening ceremony at 7 p.m. followed by the Survivor Walk.

Visitors to Relay for Life can purchase luminaries and sky lanterns from 6 to 9:30 p.m. to honor or memorialize those who have been affected by cancer. Vendors, set up in the commercial building, and team food booths open at 6 p.m. and will be open until sold out.

There will be a cake and pie auction from 8 to 9 p.m. Cake walks will also be scheduled throughout the evening.

There will also be games for all ages.

The annual luminaria service will begin at 10 p.m., with the Relay for Life guest speaker addressing the audience before the lights go out for the lighting of the luminaries and sky lanterns.

While forecasts are looking a little soggy for the day of the event, Saylor says no worries.

“We will have Relay for Life rain or shine!” she said. “The forecast is calling for rain. However, we plan to move everything to the commercial building which is at the fairgrounds if it does rain Friday night.”