Relay For Life is back

By Lynn Atkins

Posted: July 29, 2009 at 5:10 a.m.

• Print item
• E-mail
• Share
• Tweet

ROGERS — After a year's absence, the Rogers Relay For Life is back. On Aug. 14, 18 teams will meet to complete a successful fundraising season, chair Jennifer Lay explained. The overnight event begins in the evening at the Rogers Activity Center.

Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Most of the members of the 18 teams participating in the local event have been touched by cancer in some way. Some are cancer survivors, others have a close family member who has battled cancer. Together, they're raising funds that will help find a cure.

It's important each community has their own Relay, Lay said.

That way everyone has a chance to participate.

"They work a little harder when it's their own hometown," she said.

The teams work for months before the Relay raising funds through events like the Scrapbook Crop Night that one team held recently.

The next fundraiser is a concert put together by a 12-member team called "Partners for Hope." The concert at 7 p.m. on Aug. 1, features MLC, a classic rock band, with Andy Goodson and Pat Hall, and rock band No Name Kicker. It will be held at 116 W.

Walnut St., in downtown Rogers and all donations will be accepted.

The team is made up of people who love someone who has had cancer, member Jenny Giles explained.

"I met Beth Green, whose son is the honorary chairman for Relay For Life, in Seattle, Wash. Her son and my husband had bone marrow transplants there. Our loved ones survived," she said.

Not all team members have been so fortunate, she said.

"We have two purposes: toraise money for The American Cancer Society; and to make our community aware of the resources at the American Cancer Society."

Although the bulk of the fundraising takes place before the Relay, many of the teams have both activities and food as fundraisers during the event.

There's always cotton candy and popcorn, Lay said, but she's also heard about teams offering more exotic fare this year.

Each team keeps one member walking the track throughout the night, but the other members are free to play games and socialize.

Three live bands will play during the event, and there are games and other activities to keep the teams going throughout the night.

It all begins with a Survivors Dinner inside the air conditioned Activity Center. Then the Survivors walk the first lap on a track that will be set up in the parking lot north of the Center, Lay said.

Organizers decided to walk in the parking lot because it's well lit, Lay said.

At dusk, which is about 9 p.m., Luminaries honoring cancer patients, survivors and victims will be lit around the track during the luminary ceremony, Lay said. Luminaries are for sale on the Relay Web site and at the event.

Everyone is welcome to come out the night of the event, she said.

For more information or to register a survivor, go to www.relayforlife.org/rogers.

In the Spirit, Pages 5 on 07/29/2009

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.