RUMFORD – Relay For Life, an American Cancer Society signature event, will take place Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19, at Hosmer Field. “Celebration” is this year’s theme, noting 10 years of relay in the River Valley area.

The event will start at 5 p.m. with the survivors’ reception followed at 5:50 with the presentation of the Shirley Comeau Memorial and the Courage Award. The opening ceremony will take place at 6 p.m., followed by the National Anthem sung by Hannah Robinson.

The survivors’ lap around the track will kick things off. Tea Dunn will sing while area firefighters and the Knights of Columbus escort the survivors on the first lap. Right before the survivors start their walk, caregivers will place a medal on the individuals to signify that they are cancer survivors.

The team spirit parade will take place at 7 p.m. and all the teams will parade around the track with their banners and props in celebration of their participation in the relay.

New this year will be a live auction starting at 7:15. It will take the place of the silent auction. Peter Perry will be the auctioneer.

The luminary ceremony will be held at 9:30 p.m. Luminary bags will be placed around the track and lit honoring survivors and those who have lost their battle with cancer. After a blessing is given, Denise Hurd will perform on the bagpipes. The lights will be turned off and the names the luminaries honor will be read.

Activities will continue throughout the night and into the next day as the teams spend the night at the track walking in memory or in honor of their loved ones.

At 11 a.m. Saturday all raffles will be drawn and the teams will tear down their tents. The close will take place at 11:30 a.m. after the Hole-In-One Golf Ball Drop. Numbered balls will be dropped by a crane and the ball that drops into the hole will be the winner. The person who has the ball number, if present, will win $1,000. If no ball drops into the hole, the ball closest to the hole will be the winner and that person will win $500.

Relay For Life is a signature event for the American Cancer Society and all the proceeds will stay in Oxford County.

For more information, contact Diane Mitchell at 364-8358, Peggy Briggette at 364-4611 or Ray Kautzman at 1-800-464-3102, press 3.