farmington – Franklin County’s Relay for Life gets under way at 6 p.m. Friday and continues through 6 a.m. Saturday, returning to the true overnight event it is intended to be.
Rain or shine, the event will be at Mt. Blue High School.
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s premier grassroots community fundraising activity. More than 4,700 such relays take place nationwide annually, raising millions of dollars to finance research into finding cures for cancer, for advocacy, in-patient services, and local transportation, says Colleen Bate, chairman of the Franklin County Relay for Life.
“Rain is possible for the relay, and we will forge on come what may,” she said. “When you think about what people with cancer go through and how difficult it is to fight cancer, splashing around in the rain doesn’t seem like such a big sacrifice.”
Although this is Bate’s first year as chairman, she has been a tireless relay supporter. The past few years, she has been team captain for Colby’s Angels, named for her young son, who died of leukemia.
“Relay is my way of giving back. I relay in memory of our loving angel, Colby Dillion Bate,” she said. “As a caregiver of a child with cancer, I lived one day at a time. I never knew what was going to happen next.”
The American Cancer Society has all kinds of helpful local programs and resources for families and caregivers. Finding cures is costly, and each year Relay For Life continues to provide money for research.
“I know as a parent of a sick child, there was only one protocol to give to our son because he had a rare leukemia. Today we have come a long way with technology and research,” Bate said.
At some point, just about everyone is touched by cancer either afflicting friends or family. “Help us continue to fight the fight,” Bate added. “Call the Cancer Society for more information or join a local Relay for Life team.”
The Franklin County Relay for Life will begin with a survivor lap at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a social for survivors. Anyone who has had cancer is invited to come and participate in any way they choose.
The kids care lap, featuring fun characters, is set for 7 p.m. All children are welcome.
At 8 p.m., Alex Harnden will sing “Sara Beth,” originally sung by the country group Rascal Flats.
The luminary ceremony will be at 10 p.m. Luminaria are bags with lighted candles inside. Each bag is dedicated to the memory of someone lost to cancer or in honor of someone who has survived cancer. For more information about having a loved one included in the luminary ceremony, contact Anna Lyon at Franklin Savings Bank at 779-9230.
The event continues overnight, ending at 6 a.m. Saturday. Other activities include a midnight breakfast and a police dog obstacle course at 1 a.m.
For more information phone Bate at 652-2154.
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