Relay for Life walk kicks off June 12 in Beulah
By Kathy Tandberg
The 19th annual Coal Country Relay for Life – an American Cancer Society fundraiser – will kick off with registration at 5 p.m. Friday, June 12, at Riverside Park, Beulah.
New for 2015, the Relay will not be the usual overnight event as in the past. Event chairperson Lindarae Eisenbeis said this year they were given the choice of a six-hour Relay or overnight. A six-hour Relay was chosen by vote, though teams that want to camp overnight are still welcome to do so.
“The Relay will end at 12 midnight Friday night with the final lap,” Eisenbeis said.
The opening ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. in the park at the grandstand of the football field. Included in the opening ceremony will be a welcome, prayer, and introduction of teams and presentation of team awards.
Also on the football field, the annual Cancer Survivor’s first lap will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Caregiver Circle of Gratitude. Teams will take their first lap following the special laps before heading onto the park roads.
Eisenbeis said though the number of teams is down this year, 12 teams with 109 relay walkers have signed up thus far.
“But we always need more. We welcome anyone to join the walk. They don’t need to register or be on a team. Just come out and walk with us in this meaningful event,” Eisenbeis said.
To further that notion, Eisenbeis said many people come out to the park with their children in strollers or wagons, and with those old enough to walk on their own.
“Whatever it takes, we welcome everyone to join us,” Eisenbeis added.
Eisenbeis said it’s also not too late to start a team, even though there is no longer time to order t-shirts for them. Teams can wear anything they want and many dress in a theme for the event. Large or small, any team is welcome. To register a team, contact team chairperson Angie Weigum, 948-2873.
