American Cancer Society’s ‘Relay For Life’ time to celebrate, remember, fight back
Each year, more than four million people – in over 20 countries – raise funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the American Cancer Society’s “Relay For Life” (RFL) movement. They do so to honor survivors who are heroes of hope, as well as to memorialize those who lost their battles but were profiles in courage – in facing the disease.
This Friday, July 25, both Cottonwood County and Watonwan County RFL teams will be taking to their respective paths in Windom and St. James. Those paths will be well trod during the early and late evening hours at either Tegels Park along the shores of Cottonwood Lake in Windom or at the Watonwan County Fairgrounds in St. James. Each participating team has at least one participant on the path at all times.
Each RFL event features a three-pronged mission –
* Celebrate. Participants and survivors celebrate what has been overcome.
*Remember. Remember people lost to the disease, and honor people who have fought or are fighting cancer.
* Fight Back. A RFL serves as inspiration for participants to take action against a disease that has taken too much.
Following are the RFL line-ups for the Cottonwood County and Watonwan County events:
16th Annual Cottonwood County Relay For Life
* 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. – Survivors’ Reception at the Survivors’ Tent, located near the food shelter. Includes registration, photos, Survivor pins, gifts, lots of drawing prizes, meal coupons and more. Look for the lighted Garden of Life near the Ten, with special luminaria for each registered survivor.
* 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. – Silent Auction.
* 5 p.m.-6:45 p.m. – Entertainment onstage and Supper at the Park Shelter.
* 6:45 p.m. – White Bird Release.
* 7 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies, with the Survivor Celebration Lap officially beginning the Relay. (Golf carts will be available upon request.)
* 8:45 p.m. – Auction winners announced.
* 9 p.m. – Luminaria Lighting Ceremony.
* Food, fun and activities running from 4:30 p.m. to Relay’s close at 12 midnight.
(Look on Cross-Counties Connect (www.cross-countiesconnect.com) for interview with Mountain Lake’s representative as a 2014 Honorary RFL Chairperson, Mary Willaby, following the conclusion of the event’s activities.)
17th Annual Watonwan County Relay For Life
* Performance onstage will kick off the Relay at 4 p.m.
* 4 p.m.-10 p.m. – Silent Auction in the Red Building.
* 4:30 p.m.-730 p.m. – Survivor Registration in the Red Building.
5 p.m. – Free-will dinner served in the Sertoma Food Stand.
6 p.m. – Musical group “Attitude” appearing onstage.
* 7 p.m. – Open Ceremonies: Invocation by Pastor Kathleen Ulland-Klinkner; Welcome by St. James Mayor Gary Sturm; Color Guard presentation; National Anthem performed by Shelby Haseman, Mackinzee Miest, Callie Coleman and Clare Lepp; American Cancer Society presentation by Greg Rossow of the American Cancer Society’s Community Relations; Watonwan County Relay For Life Committee presentation and Introduction of Corporate Sponsors.
* 7:45 p.m. – Survivor Walk featuring 2014 Honorary Survivors Alyce Collins and Roy McCabe, as well as musical performance by “Attitude” and the start of the Team Walk.
* 8:30 p.m. – Armstrong Brass Quintet appearing onstage.
* 9:30 p.m.-12 midnight – “Attitude” appearing onstage.
