Relay for Life fights cancer Saturday

The Relay for Life of Washington County continues its battle against cancer this Saturday in Washington?s Central Park. The opening ceremonies are at noon and they kick start a day of fun and games on one hand, and quiet reflection for those who have passed on the other. The event concludes with a final lap around the square just before midnight. All proceeds from the event go to the American Cancer Society to fund cancer research.

The Relay has a goal of $150,000 this year. Last year, the Relay raised $137,000. Fundraising at the Relay has grown every year from its humble beginnings in 2001 when it raised $24,000. In 2010, the Relay in Washington County was among the top 10 in the nation for per-capita fundraising.

The inside lane all around the square will be blocked off Saturday. Relay for Life teams will have campsites set up throughout the park. There are 27 teams this year. The campsites will sell items such as baked goods, jewelry, arts and crafts and much more. Each team decorates its campsites in the hopes of winning the best campsite award, which will be announced at 5:40 p.m.

The Kiwanis AM?ers will put on a breakfast the morning of the event from 7 to 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church. The proceeds from that breakfast will also go to the Relay for Life.

The event will feature several guest speakers. Christina Waters, mother of cancer-survivor Jenna Waters, will dedicate the event at noon. Jim Rosien will speak about his ordeal with cancer during the survivor ceremony. Scott Cooley will give an address as the memorial speaker. Natalie Wilkerson will speak during the caregiver ceremony.

Food will be provided the whole day by the Washington County Cattlemen?s Association. ?Sheltered Reality? will perform the first live musical act of the event at 1:30 p.m. Ryne Doughty, who has toured the Midwest, will perform at 7 p.m. Members of Melissa?s Stairway to the Stairs will perform a dance routine, and the Bump family will also perform.

Margaret Renoux is the publicity chairwoman for the Relay for Life. It is her first year on the Relay for Life committee but her 10

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year of participating in the Relay. Renoux has a personal connection to cancer. Her brother Andy died of cancer 10 years ago when he was 16 years old. Andy was fond of monkeys, so Renoux?s team, ?Team Renoux? has chosen monkeys as the team theme.

?Every team has a theme, and ours is ?Cancer is monkey business,?? said Renoux. ?We have a 5-foot blow up monkey and monkey stuffed animals.?

The campsites will also feature silent auctions. There is also an auction specifically for desserts. That auction begins at 4 p.m. and includes pies, cookies, cakes and other goodies.

Luminarias will be sold until 8 p.m., which is when they will be turned on. Those are paper bags that contain a light with the name of a person who is being memorialized or a person honored for a fight with cancer. They can be bought and turned in ahead of time at the Washington Free Public Library. Renoux said there are often 700 to 1,000 luminaria bags around the square.

?They?re a great way to pay tribute to those who have battled cancer,? said Renoux. ?It?s also a reflective process. It?s a way to heal if you are a family member or a caregiver of someone who has battled or who is battling cancer. I go through photos of me and my brother every year, and I put new photos on the bags. It helps you to remember those old memories.?