Relay for Life - A very unique and special event

Each year since 1996 Jasper County residents have been participating in an very special event - Relay for Life.  This an event that remembers those who have lost their lives to cancer, celebrates those who are cancer survivors, and helps raise money for cancer research.

The first local Relay for Life was held August 16 and 17 at the high school track August 16 and 17, beginning with an Opening Ceremony at 7 p.m. and concluding very early the next morning. 

Since that first year, each year area residents have gathered at two places - the high school track and the fairgrounds - to have the annual event. This year's event will be held June 11th beginning at 4 p.m.  and will be held at a new location - around the Newton Square.

Most years have began with an Opening Ceremony which was followed by a Survivors Lap.  This is a very special lap just for the survivors.   As each survivor starts the lap their name is announced.  Following this impressive lap, an Opening Lap which includes all of the participants of the various teams, officially begins the event.

One of the most impressive parts of the evening has always been the Luminaria Ceremony which usually starts around 9 p.m.    This ceremony is a candlelight vigil to honor those who have lost their lives to cancer, and to honor those who are cancer survivors.

For the past several years, before the actual Relay for Life a Survivor's Dinner has been held for the survivors and their caregivers.   Some years the event was held at the Community Center a week or two before the event.  The 2009 Survivors' Dinner  was held in the high school cafeteria the night of the event just prior to the Opening Ceremony.

At the local Relay a variety of activities occur.  Each team creates their own 'campsite' for the Relay, using the theme for that year's Relay.    Each of the teams also 'name' their campsite.   Many times the campsites have food and other items to offer the other participants.   At the conclusion of the 12 hour event one campsite is recognized as being the outstanding campsite for that year, and presented with a small token

Also during the 12 hour Relay, there are a variety of events for the participants to take part in or watch - these include contests, games, musical entertainment, talent show, and even in recent years a "Mr. Relay Contest".

The weather has not always cooperated with the local event.  Two memorable years included the  year the event had to be moved inside the high school, and in 2008 when participants trying to 'weather' out tornado warnings as well as flooding in the area.

Although Jasper County has only had a Relay For Life for the past 14 years, the event was started several years earlier.  The first Relay was in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  Since then, Relay has grown from a single manÕs passion to fight cancer into the worldÕs largest movement to end the disease. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 19 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon

Throughout the years that the Jasper County American Cancer Society Chapter has sponsored a Relay for Life, participants may have changed but the meaning behind the event has not.  This event is one to celebrate life - to honor those who couragely fought a battle with cancer and lost and those who fought the battle and are there to celebrate.  Jasper County has always rallied around this event, helping in many ways with the local event usually meeting their monetary goal for the event.

Work for the event takes a lot of planning  -  planning for the next year's event usually beginning shortly after the Relay For Life is over for that year.  A planning committee of area volunteers get together as well as those who have volunteered to be team captains.   The group meets at least once a month until the event .

Anyone who has questions or would like to help can locally contact Christy Gentry at 783-4436 or  Erika Weiss from the Eastern Region Office at 217-356-9076.