County fundraisers culminate with Relay

By Staff
Melissa Cason
It's finally here.
The Franklin County Relay for Life will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at the Russellville High School football stadium.
The event will begin with bank night on Thursday.
"This is where the teams turn in their money and get their shirts from the American Cancer Society," Committee Chair Belinda Johnson said.
Bank night will be held at CB&S Bank on Highway 43 next to McDonald's, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Johnson said the Relay will begin with the survivor's dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the RHS cafeteria. Admission to the relay requires an armband. Teams have been provided an armband. The public is asked to give a $5 donation to the American Cancer Society if they don't have an armband.
The survivor's lap will kick off with actual relay at 7 p.m. after the prayer and rising of the flag. There will also be a special lap for the caregivers this year.
"We want to honor the caregivers at the Relay this year as well," Johnson said. "This is new to the Relay, but we hope it will become an annual lap at our Relay."
A caregiver 'flower' can be purchased at the Relay in honor of a caregiver.
This year's theme is "RelayLand: Tune in for a Cure."
"We thought it would be fun to dress up and decorate like the old TV shows," Johnson said.
All teams are encouraged to decorate their campsites and dress up in according to the theme they picked.
The luminary ceremony will begin at 9 p.m.
Johnson said teams are responsible for their own luminaries. Sand and bags will be provided at the Relay for last minute luminary purchases. However, teams need to pick up their bags at area banks prior to the Relay.
"This is the second year we have done the luminary bags this way, and it has been successful," Johnson said.
One new addition to the Relay is the talent competition, Relay Idol. This event will begin at 10:30 p.m. and awards will be given to the winners.
"We added the Relay Idol this year to encourage teams and other participants to stay all night," Johnson said.
The Relay for Life traditionally held from dusk to dawn. The sunset represents the patient's diagnosis. The events through the night represent the patient's fight to live, and the dawn represents the patient's win over the disease.
"We want to have an all-night Relay," Johnson said. "So teams are encouraged to stay all night and plan activities through the night."
This year, there will be a torch passed from team to team all through the relay. The committee hopes the teams will stay through the night, and the torch will still be lit in the morning.
Johnson said in the case of inclement weather, the survivor's dinner will be held at the regular scheduled time. However, the luminary ceremony will be held on Saturday night. A determination on the weather will be made by noon on Friday, and will be posted on the Franklin County Relay for Life website, and at www.fct.wpengine.com.