Organizers hope to raise $100,000 at Stayton’s annual Relay for Life, a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society July 20-21 at Stayton High School.
“It’s an ambitious goal,” said Alisha Oliver, event chair. “Teams and individuals are working hard to raise as much as they can. So far this year, we have seven participants who have joined the $1,000 Club, individuals that personally raise at least $1,000! We are planning on at least 500 participants, 33 teams and 125 survivors.”
Oliver invited everyone to join in the activities – Bingo, field games, Guitar Hero Tournament – that will be going on throughout the event. “You don’t have to be on a team to join in,” she said.
Team fundraising will take place up until the day of the Relay, including Paint the Town Purple from July 9 to July 21. Businesses and individuals are invited to display purple and/or Relay gear to bring awareness to the cause. This year’s theme is “Relaying for Life – The Magic of the Relay,” and a relay at 6 p.m. Friday, July 15 at the Regis High School track will open the two-day event.
“The theme stems from one of our committee members, Ron Etzel, who was diagnosed with a reoccurrence of cancer just before Relay last year,” Oliver said. “His tagline has been ‘Relaying for Life’ for quite some time. When the committee learned of his diagnosis, it just really brought home why we work all year long for the 18-hour event. We are relaying for life so people can celebrate more birthdays and so one day nobody will have to hear the words, ‘you have cancer.’”
A silent auction will be held Friday, with closing times at 7 , 9 and 11 p.m., and breakfast will be available Saturday for a suggested $3 donation. Cancer survivors eat free and first.
Highlights include:
6 p.m., Friday – Opening Ceremony featuring Carter’s story told by daddy, Chuck Funrue. Survivors take the opening lap around 6:30 p.m.
6:30-8 p.m. – Spaghetti dinner cooked by Stayton Oddfellows. Suggested donation $5 per plate.
8 p.m. – Mrs. Relay Competition with teams entering a “Mrs.” Contestant, a man dressed in Mrs. Gear collecting money in their purses.
8:30 p.m. – Fight Back Ceremony.
10 p.m. – Lumineria Ceremony, honoring cancer survivors and those who lost their battle. The candles may be purchased prior to the relay by contacting Leslie Stewart at leslies@prurep.com and at the Relay for a $5 donation.
11 p.m. – Silent Karaoke.
11:30 a.m., Saturday – Closing Ceremony, featuring Fancy Flights White Doves by Jeanie Prichard.
“When the survivors take to the track for that opening lap and we see that sea of purple, it’s amazing,” Oliver said. Relay for Life is an overnight event symbolizing cancer never sleeps. For information visit www.relayforlife.org/staytonor.
Survivors may contact Roxanne Custer at 503-769-9371.
