Cancer survivors walk a lap around the track at the start of last year’s Madison County Relay For Life. This year’s Relay is set for June 19 at West Jefferson High School.
(Posted June 11, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
This year’s Madison County Relay For Life is packing a whole lot of fun and meaning into a shortened time frame.
To better accommodate participants’ lifestyles and schedules, Relays across the state have opted to go from overnight events to single-evening events. The Madison County Relay is set for 6 p.m. June 19 to about 1:30 a.m. June 20 at West Jefferson High School. In the past, the Relay lasted 18 hours.
“It’s going to be an action-packed eight hours this year,” said organizer Gina Newsome. “We just want to have a party all the way to the end, finishing everything off with a great closing ceremony.”
Relay For Life is a fundraising event in which teams of families, friends, co-workers and the like raise money to benefit the American Cancer Society. Teams start their efforts weeks and months before Relay weekend, then camp out at the event, take turns walking laps around the track, and keep on raising money. The public is invited to come out and enjoy the activities. This year’s theme is a luau.
Among the activities is the “Hopeful Bra” contest. Participants enter a bra decorated and named to show support for the fight against cancer. The bras will be judged and a winner announced at 8:30 p.m. To enter a bra or for more information, contact Newsome at (740) 506-5305.
Another creative (and humorous) event is the Ms. Relay contest from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Teams choose a male participant and doll him up in a dress to compete for the title of “Ms. Relay for Life.” Relay attendees will vote for their favorites; each vote is 25 cents. The entrant with the most quarters in his bucket wins.
At 8 p.m., beauticians will be available to cut hair for Locks Of Love and Wigs For Kids. At least 10 inches of hair is needed for a donation. Walk-ins are welcome. Or to schedule a time, contact Newsome.
At 10 p.m., the names of individuals who are fighting cancer, who have beaten cancer or who passed away due to cancer will be read as part of the moving luminary ceremony. Candles will circle the track.
The Relay For Life committee invites the community to come together to celebrate, to remember and to fight back against cancer.
For more information, call Gina Newsome (740) 506-5305.
Schedule of events
Friday, June 19
3 p.m.—Grounds open for teams to set up
5 p.m.—Food court and Fundraiser Village open
5-8:30 p.m.—Hopeful Bra contest
5-9:45 p.m.—Silent auction
5-9 p.m.—Luminary sales
6 p.m.—Kickoff ceremony; sponsor ribbon-cutting
6-7:30 p.m.—Survivor dinner
6-8 p.m.—Face painting
7-9 p.m.—Madison Health Dermascan machine and blood pressure checks
7:30 p.m.—Survivor/caregiver celebration lap
8 p.m.—Locks of Love, team spirit awards, inspiration award
9-9:30 p.m.—Ms. Relay contest
10 p.m.—Luminary ceremony
11 p.m.-midnight—Pick up items from silent auction
11 p.m.—Mobile doughnut wagon
11:30 p.m.—Frozen t-shirt contest
Midnight—Final money deposits due, luau lap
Saturday, June 20
12:30 a.m.—Victory lap led by survivors
1-1:30 a.m.—Closing ceremonies, raffle drawings, team awards
Corporate sponsors
Platinum Plus: SafeHarbor, IBEW
Platinum: Flyer’s Pizza & Subs, Stanley Electric, Jefferson Industries, Madison County Shriners, Men Fraternal Order of Eagles 950
Gold: Merchants Bank, Madison Health, First Merit Bank, Phi Beta Psi – Iota Beta Sorority
Silver: Helm Briscoe, Family Dental
Bronze: West Jefferson Animal Hospital, Murry & Edward Petroleum, Ladies Auxiliary VFW West Jefferson, Yutzy Brothers, Kronk and Scaggs Insurance, Chaney and Thomas Insurance, State Farm Insurance, Krazy Glue, Direct Mechanical, Ladies Fraternal Order of Eagles 950, Jennifer S Hunter, CPA
Auction sponsors
56 Auto
AMC Lennox – Columbus
BalletMet
Chakeres Theatres – Springfield
Downtown Nashville Courtyard Hotel (Nashville, Tenn.)
Fine Designs and Interiors
Johnny Cash Museum (Nashville, Tenn.)
Limelight Photography
London Animal Hospital
London Country Club
Madison County Tire
Madison Lanes
Mug & Brush
Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, Tenn.)
Sherwin Williams – London
Zipline Adventures – Kentucky
Columbus Zoo
COSI
Eagles London Women Auxiliary
