Relay For Life returns with modified event still aimed to assist those battling cancer

While walkers won’t gather for the annual celebration of life and fight against cancer, this year’s Franklin County Relay For Life instead will feature a whole week’s worth of activities to show support to those affected by the dis-ease.

At the center of the event is the annual luminaria project. Luminaria forms are due today (Wednesday, July 15) and will be on display for a virtual walk around the track next Friday night.

The week kicks off Mon-day, July 20 with a sponsor shout out on the Relay For Life of Franklin County Facebook page. Tuesday, July 21 will be a team shoutout, where teams are encouraged to post photos of themselves in Relay For Life shirts. The shoutouts continue on Wednesday with a caregiver shoutout, where people are invited to share pictures and words of encouragement to their caregivers.

Thursday is the final shoutout day and one that touches many throughout the community. Thursday’s shoutouts will be directed at survivors. Survivor Sponsor Franklin General Hospital will put together a video of survivors in the area, which will be played on Thursday night and again on Friday night at 6 p.m.

The week concludes on Friday with the Relay event itself. Throughout the day, KLMJ will host its Golf Challenge Radio-a-thon.

The Franklin County Cattlemen from 5 to 6:30 p.m. will serve a sack supper at the Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School Parking lot. At 6 p.m., a Cruisin’ for a Cure drive will leave the H-D-CAL parking lot, led by honorary co-chairs. Participants of the drive will compete in a scavenger hunt and gifts will be awarded to the winners. During the cruise, KLMJ will be live with a guest deejay.

Following the cruise will be a performance on Facebook Live by Betty & the Gents, beginning at 8 p.m. The concert will feature a virtual tip jar with donations going towards the Relay.

The night ends with the luminaria walk at 9 p.m. followed by a live wrap-up and a total of the money raised.

Sheri Bogue, Relay For Life chair, said that while the Relay won’t happen as planned, it was important to so many that an event of some sort happened even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During this trying time with COVID-19 cancelling events and making many changes in our lives, one thing that has not stopped is cancer,” she said. “People are still being diagnosed with cancer and some are even missing treatments.

“The American Cancer Society and all of the Relay For Life volunteers have not stopped during this time, we still need funds to support ongoing research and the many programs that survivors have come to depend on,” she added.