A number of new activities are set for the American Cancer
Society’s 2006 Relay for Life, which will be held from 3 p.m.
Friday to 3 p.m. Saturday at Callahan Park in Bradford.
Fran Stewart of the American Cancer Society of Bradford said one
of the new events is The Wall of Hope banner. She said Zippo
Manufacturing Co. and W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. sponsored
it.
The banner will be taken to the Relay for people to sign their
names or write a message. The banner will then be taken to
Washington, D.C., in September for the Celebration on the (Capitol)
Hill to lobby for more cancer research funding. All of the
Pennsylvania banners will be stacked three high, according to
Stewart, and banners will be there from all across the country.
Also new this year, Stewart said, is a Web site for the Bradford
Relay For Life at www.acsevents.org/relay/pa/bradford. She
explained that people can donate online with a credit card or they
can print off a form online to send in. The teams and top
fundraisers are also listed on the site.
“This way we can reach out to family and friends that don’t live
in Pa.,” Stewart said. “This is one way for them to do something.
We’re excited about that.” She also said they’ve had people from
the West Coast and other countries contribute through the Web
site.
Stewart said they will also have two large raffles. One of the
raffles will be held by Kids for Cancer with the winner to receive
a 2006 Harley Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle. A portion of the raffle
ticket sales will go back to the Relay, according to Stewart.
Other new events include a craft show with about eight craft
vendors inside the ice-skating rink at Callahan Park and a food
court with teams making the food inside and four vendors from the
community outside, which include Runway Caf_, The New Broaster,
Dairy Queen and Buck’s Pizza.
Relay for Life is a community gathering where everyone can
participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out
at the park and take turns walking or running around the path. Each
team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times
during the event.
“It’s a community event,” Stewart said. “All of the community is
welcome to come out and have a good time. We want people to have
fun (in addition to raising money for the American Cancer Society
and celebrating cancer survivors.) There’s something there for
everyone.”
Last year’s Relay was held for the first time in Callahan Park
instead of the track behind the Bradford Area High School. Stewart
said this year’s route will be the same loop as last year in
Callahan Park.
“People really liked going to the park,” Stewart said. “There’s
more room for tents. There’s something to look at through the park,
instead of just going around a track. It helps keep things fun and
keep people awake for 24 hours.”
Stewart is hoping for a beautiful day for the event but said
they’re keeping an eye on the weather.
“In case of rain, if there’s a thunderstorm, we’ll go into the
ice-skating rink until it’s over,” Stewart said. “Except for a
thunderstorm, we’ll continue with the event.”
Stewart said there are currently 30 teams with about 15 people
on average per team, making about 450 people that will participate
in the event. She said she’s hoping to have between 800 and 850
people show up including the teams and the public.
Registration for teams will begin at 3 p.m. Friday, when team
leaders can pick up their packets. Survivors can register from 5:30
to 7 p.m. with the survivors’ ceremony to be held at 7 p.m.
“This year’s theme is board games,” Stewart said. “Instead of
kicking the survivors off the island, we’re bringing them on the
island. Also, this year, we’ll be giving survivors medals.”
Stewart explained gold, silver and bronze medals will be given
to survivors depending on how long they’ve been a survivor. The
gold medals are for long-time survivors, and bronze medals are for
the newest survivors.
The honorary guest will be in the survivors lap at 7 p.m.
“This year, we’re honoring The Print Shop – Kathy Peefe and her
crew,” Stewart said. “She does a wonderful job with printing for
us. When we need something printed, they’re always there. We’re
excited about that.”
The luminaria ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. This ceremony of
light symbolizes the hope and perseverance with which all continue
to fight. Luminaria are lit in memory of someone lost to cancer, in
honor of someone still fighting or in special recognition of
someone who has beaten the disease. Stewart said people can buy
luminaria until 7 p.m.
Activities and games will begin at 11 p.m. and run until 6 a.m.
Saturday.
“There will be a limbo contest, a hula hoop contest, free-throw
shooting since the basketball courts are there. Those are just some
of the activities,” Stewart said. “They’re for the kids
mostly.”
Stewart said they hope to raise $99,000.
“Basically, all the money raised – 40 percent right off the top
– goes to cancer research,” Stewart said. “And the research the
money will go to are the ones that are doing new, exciting things.
The rest of the money goes to program services and patient services
in the region in McKean County.”
Some of the programs Stewart mentioned include Road to Recovery,
Reach to Recovery and Look Good/Feel Better as well as mileage pay
and pre-pays for cancer patients.
For more information about Relay For Life or to purchase a
luminaria, call the American Cancer Society or stop at the office
located at 56 Thompson Ave.
Stewart wanted to remind those who wish to participate that no
alcohol or tobacco products will be permitted at the event. Also,
no dogs are allowed in the park.
