Ready, Set, Relay for Life 2011

This is the event that everything has been leading up to—the fundraising, the planning, the purple buckets and friendly softball games. Everything has been leading up to the night of Relay for Life, which will take place this Friday and Saturday, July 29 to 30 at the Sunset Chevrolet Stadium in Sumner.

At 6 p.m. the opening ceremony will begin.

“At the opening ceremony we will have 2 guest speakers and will take some time to do recognition and welcome everyone to the event,” said Debbie McDonald, publicity chair.

An estimated 150 to 200 survivors will make the first lap around the track. Caregivers will follow, and the third lap will be for teams bearing banners.

So far, 68 teams have registered for the event. Each team receives a designated area to decorate (with the overall them of A Night at the Movies) and fundraise during the event. One person from the team must be on the track at all times carrying their team spirit stick.

Online registration is still open, and there will be onsite registration as well. Around 1,000 to 1,200 people are expected to participate.

“Relay for Life is a community event. If an individual would like to come out and walk, we welcome them to join us. We ask that they register… so that they can receive their participant T-shirt,” said McDonald.

A luminaria ceremony will take place at dusk, between 9 and 10 p.m. In this way, the participators will honor those who they have lost to cancer.

New this year is the quarter activity.

“People will bring their quarters and place them around the track on the inside and all the money raised from it will go to Relay. My goal is to get one lap of quarters around the track. So bring your quarters!” said Entertainment Chair Meghan Dietrich.

Throughout the night, walkers will be able to participate in themed laps and contests. Themed laps include:

Crazy hats: 7 p.m.

Elvis hour: 8 p.m.

Superheroes: 10 p.m.

Favorite holiday: 11 p.m.

Craziest workout attire: midnight

A possible poker lap: 1 a.m.

Glow sticks and other light-up regalia: 2 a.m.

Hawaiian attire: 3 a.m.

Military attire: 4 a.m.

Tie-dye and neon colors: 5 a.m.

Noise makers: 6 a.m.

Pajamas: 7 a.m.

Mother-daughter: 8 a.m.

Wacky outfits: 9 a.m.

Sports: 10 a.m.

Some of the other activities and entertainment will be a “Save the Tah-Tahs Bra Decorating Contest,” an Elvis performance and look-a-like contest, a dedication song hour, human bingo, a scavenger hunt, bands, a rooster crow contest and relay races.

The closing ceremony will take place on Saturday morning at 11:30. Raffle winners and fundraising totals will be announced and everyone will celebrate the success of the event with ice cream.

“If you haven’t been to a Relay for Life before, it’s difficult to explain what to expect," said McDonald. "We all have our stories about why we Relay. (Read Debbie's here.) We get together at Relay to celebrate those who are winning the battle against cancer, remember those we have lost, and band together to fight this horrible disease.”