Relay: Time to remember, celebrate, fight back

• Getting shaved for Relay for Life

Donna Watje begins the process of having her head shaved by Farley’s & Sathers President Denny Nemeth as part of “Donna’s Week”, a fundraising effort benefitTing the Nobles County Relay for Life charity. The event raised $3,238. (Brian Korthals/Daily Globe)
• Ablog getting head shaved

Donna Watje (from left) has her head shaved by Dawn Murphy as fellow transportation department employee Alan Ablog has his head shaved by Becky Vander Plaats during a fundraising event at Farley’s & Sathers in Round Lake. (Brian Korthals/Daily Globe)

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — “No matter what our experience with cancer has been, we all share the hope that we will one day live in a world where our children, and their children, will never have to hear the words, ‘You have cancer.’”

That is a favorite quote of Kim Lambert, chairwoman of the 2009 Nobles County Relay for Life. Each year, the Relay brings together family and friends who have been touched by cancer, and even those who haven’t, to “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.”

From young Riley Meester singing the national anthem to the inspiring stories of Honorary Co-Chairman Dan Jensen and Jeff Meyer, a Guitar Hero contest and making blankets for Project Linus, this year’s Relay for Life event is hoped to draw a large crowd Friday night at the fairgrounds, located along Stower Drive in Worthington.

This year’s event marks the 13th annual for Nobles County, while the American Cancer Society is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first Relay for Life. Silver will be a recurring theme throughout the campsites Friday night, and guests will be invited to vote for their favorite site throughout the evening.

Activities get under way at 5 p.m. Friday, with survivor registration and the opening of the Silent Auction and Smart Shop. All cancer survivors from Nobles County will receive a free meal during a survivor reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. On the menu this year is a pork sandwich, cole slaw, chips and a drink. Meals will also be available to the general public to purchase.

Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. with an invocation and singing of the national anthem, followed by the introduction of the 2009 Honorary Co-Chairman. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs, as limited bleacher seating will be available.

Special recognition will be given to all cancer survivors, who will then take part in the release of 144 Monarch butterflies before walking around the luminary-lined track.

New this year will be a recognition ceremony for caregivers — those who have given their time and dedication to loved ones during their journey with cancer.

“The caregiver recognition is something the American Cancer Society has suggested doing because several survivors have wanted to recognize their caregivers,” Lambert said. “It’s not meant to be anything to draw attention away from the survivors, but to recognize everything that the caregiver goes through.”

At dusk, following introductions of the 21 teams that have assembled for the Relay for Life, Mark Loosbrock will perform “Point of Light.” A moment of silence will then precede the luminaria lighting ceremony.

“It’s a very moving experience for everyone that attends,” said Lambert. “I think that everyone has been touched by cancer in one way or another. If it hasn’t been themselves, they’ve had a loved one or a friend be affected.”

Lambert said this year’s Relay for Life will send a special message of hope out to all who pass by the Relay grounds while traveling east on Interstate 90. Instead of the traditional Garden of Hope that has been done in the past, Lambert said the luminaries for survivors will be arranged into the words “HOPE,” for Interstate travelers to see.

“We’d like to have the survivors light their luminaries,” she added.

When all of the luminaries are lit, team members will begin to walk the luminaria-lined track through the night, and the public is invited to join in.

Throughout the event, there will be numerous activities and fundraisers at the campsites, from JBS and the UFCW serving pork chops on a stick to The Lighter Side Clowns performing at the Hope for the Future camp. Several teams will sell tickets for raffle items, the Powers Walking for a Cure and Daily Globe teams will sell sweet treats, and Farley’s & Sathers will be back with a wide variety of confectionary snacks.

The AOK Club of Worthington High School will host a Guitar Hero competition beginning at 10 p.m. on the outdoor stage, in inside the hockey arena in case of rain. People can take part in the competition for a small entry fee, which will be donated to the Relay for Life.

“Anyone can come and sign up for that — the more, the merrier,” said Lambert.

To help keep everyone awake after midnight, Bev Vajgrt will provide fleece for anyone who wants to volunteer to tie blankets for Project Linus.

The 2009 Relay comes to an end with the closing ceremony at 5 a.m., during which the final fundraising total will be announced.

Tags: state and region, relay for life, news