Relay For Life, Grateful to be Alive Block Party join together Saturday at the track in Ritzville

Honoring cancer patients, encouraging healthy lifestyles are the focus for the combined event

The Ritzville track and Jimmie Snider Field are the center of a celebration on Saturday as local residents join together to walk throughout the night to join in the battle against cancer during the 2014 Relay For Life of Ritzville.

Along with the annual event, the Grateful to be Alive Block Party has relocated from downtown Ritzville and is now being hosted in cooperation with the Relay For Life event. The Grateful to be Alive Block Party is sponsored by the Ritzville Drug Company, Hometown Family Medicine and The Journal.

All of the proceeds raised during the Block Party are donated to the American Cancer Society to assist with cancer research and funding cancer programs for patients.

Relay For Life serves as a unique fundraising event for the American Cancer Society as individuals, businesses, civic organizations and corporations clear their schedules to partake in the at least 12-hour event. The Relay For Life of Ritzville event stretches from noon on Saturday, July 12 until midnight.

During Relay, individuals join together for one day of celebration and determination to help find a cure for cancer.

The fundraiser serves as a chance for those in attendance to celebrate those who have won the battle against cancer and honor those who have lost the battle. It also serves as a supportive and uplifting experience for any individual currently battling cancer.

The registration table opens at 11:30 a.m. for survivors to register.

Survivor’s Luncheon

At every Relay event, a survivor’s luncheon is hosted for cancer survivors and a guest to attend with them. To provide flexibility and for the convenience of the survivors, the luncheon this year begins after the survivor’s lap at 12:15 p.m. and food will continue to be served until 1:30 p.m. in Gilson Gymnasium.

Before the meal, survivors can pick up a free Relay t-shirt and a balloon at the registration table, before participating in the Survivor’s Lap at 12:15 p.m. around the newly refurbished track. Survivors are encouraged to attend the Survivors Ceremony during the opening ceremonies at the event.

Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremony for the Relay event kicks off at 12 p.m. with a welcome to participants and recognition to sponsors who made the event possible. Before the singing of the national anthem and the posting of the colors, Pastor Steve Schofstoll will provide the invocation.

After the introductions, participants will have the opportunity to recognize cancer survivors, who are a major part of the reason why Relay For Life of Ritzville occurs every year. The survivors will release their balloons before they begin their victory lap around the track as all other participants cheer them on.

The survivors lap is an emotional experience honoring those who have defeated cancer and serves as a unification of victory and hope for all in attendance. Any community member who is a cancer survivor is encouraged to join the lap, even if they have not registered for the event.

During the survivor’s lap, all participants are reminded of why they take part in the Relay event and it helps set the stage for the remainder of the day.

Immediately following the survivor’s lap, all participants will converge on the track to walk a single lap. Individuals use this opportunity to show support for one another. This year’s theme is the “Finish the Fight” and reminds individuals of the reason behind Relay, and the purpose for celebrating healthy living together as a community.

Activities and Food

With the addition of the Grateful to be Alive Block Party, children and adults have an endless amount of activities available throughout the day. Due to the expected warm temperatures on Saturday, event coordinators have added more water games to keep participants cool during the day.

Also due to high temperatures, participants can dip their feet in a large water trough, walk through misters or even run through sprinklers. Organizers are encouraging all individuals to remain hydrated during the event, and free water bottles are provided.

One of the highlighted activities of the day includes a painted water fight, which includes squirt guns and different colored painted water. Individuals or teams can sign up to compete and use the obstacle course to be the last man standing in the competition.

The paint is washable, but Relay For Life t-shirts will be available for a $5 donation at the booth for participants to wear and keep.

In the middle of the track, children of all ages are invited to compete in a game of inflatable Twister. Set up like a typical Twister game, the massive board is on top of an inflatable surface nearly three-feet high that allows competitors to twist and turn, but have a comfortable surface to land on.

A tropical bounce house is located next to the Twister game for youngsters to play in during the day. Both inflatable activities are available for the duration of the event.

Carnival games provided at the event include duck pond, plinko, water pong, snack toss and knock ‘em down. Multiple frozen t-shirt competitions will be run throughout the afternoon. The contest challenges teams to thaw a frozen t-shirt and wear it before any other team.

The carnival games, bounce house and twister have a ticket cost associated with them for individuals to participate. Tickets are available for purchase and cost $.25 each, or five for $1.

Sporadically during the afternoon, themed laps highlight the activities on the track. In an effort to keep individuals walking on the track as part of Relay, the themed laps provided entertainment as individuals complete their laps.

Themed laps include scavenger hunts, sack toss, limbo, poker, bingo, balloon race, cake walk, three-legged race.

Prizes will be awarded to the winners at each of the games and themed laps.

Food provided at the event includes chicken and sausage for a donation, and water is provided free of charge to all attendees at the event.

Fundraisers

While many of teams have participated in fundraisers before the Relay event, there also will be a group of teams continuing their fundraisers throughout the night.

The Connell Oil, Inc. Relay team plans to continue their tradition of selling necklaces for $5 at the event. For every lap completed, the participant receives a bead to honor their commitment to helping find a cure for cancer.

“Miss”ter Relay

This entertaining tradition helps to bring a lighthearted experience the event, all while continuing to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The “Miss”ter contest begins at 9 p.m. and will showcase one male member from each team that wishes to participate.

The men dress in “drag” and must undergo an interview where they have the chance to display their talent. They then have a half-hour to solicit donations from all attendees at the event.

The man who collects the most money will then be crowned the 2014 “Miss”ter Relay. All of the costumes of willing participates are complete with wigs, jewelry, dresses and makeup.

Luminaria Ceremony

Just after sunset, the true light of the Relay event begins to shine as the luminaria ceremony begins to honor all that have battled cancer. The ceremony is a tribute to those who have battled and won, those who are currently fighting the disease and those who have passed away.

The luminaria ceremony serves as a chance for individuals to remember all of those they know personally who have fought against cancer. Each individual who has a luminary created for them will be recognized in a slideshow presentation during the ceremony.

The luminaries will line the track and are left with candles burning throughout the night to show just how many people the disease has affected. It serves as an opportunity to grieve for those who have passed and celebrate with those who have won the battle.

Closing Ceremonies

During the closing ceremonies at 11:30 p.m., attendees will discover who has won the top fundraising amount and who receives the best spirit award. The closing ceremonies serve as a time for teams and individuals to wind down and celebrate participating in the Relay event with their team and community members.

Organizers encourage residents in the area to be understanding and remember that participants enjoy music, entertainment and food throughout the day while building team spirit to help in the fight against cancer.