Relay For Life slated at New Richmond school

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Teams are forming and plans are being finalized for the annual Relay for Life of New Richmond.

This year’s relay is planned for June 8-9 from 2 p.m.-2 p.m. at the New Richmond Middle School track, 920 Riley Ave. The opening ceremony will be conducted at 6 p.m. and the luminaria ceremony is scheduled for 10 p.m.

More than 30 teams have registered for the event already, said Jill Foster, publicity chairwoman.

Just like last year, local stylists will be donating their time to cut hair, which will then be donated to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program, which creates wigs for cancer patients.

Among the highlights for the relay are:

The Survivors Lap: (6 p.m. Friday.) Relay typically begins with a Survivors Lap, an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories achieved over cancer.

The Luminaria Ceremony: (10 p.m. Friday.) After dark, participants honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony.

Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence.

The Fight Back Ceremony: Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where participants make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease.

At the relay, teams of people camp out at the middle school and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

There will be special survivor events, guest speakers, kids games, eduction, food and silent auction items.

The 24-hour event is free and open to everyone.

You can make a difference today by signing up online to start your own team or by simply making a donation.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of New Richmond is also seeking volunteers for their event on June 8-9.

If interested in participating as an individual or team, go to www.relayforlife.org/newrichmondwi or contact Patty Berger at 715-248-3892.

Tags: new richmond, communities, lifestyle, health