Organizers and volunteers of the Relay for Life of St. Johns / Clinton County Painted the Town Purple last weekend in preparation for the upcoming Relay coming up May 13th and 14th, 2011.
Purple is the official color of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the universal color that represents all cancers.
This year in order to spread awareness about the Relay for Life and the community’s ongoing commitment to fight cancer, volunteers hung over 350 ribbons throughout St. Johns.
The Relay For Life of St. Johns / Clinton County will take place May 13th and 14th, 3 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the St. Johns High School Football Field.
Throughout the 2 weeks prior to the Relay For Life event (May 1st – 14th) businesses and residents are encouraged to decorate their storefronts, offices, and homes in a purple motif.
“The biggest message it sends is we won’t let cancer defeat us or our loved ones and we will stand together as a community until a cure is found,” said Shelley Hunt, Chair, Relay For Life of St. Johns.
This year there is even an official “Wear Purple Day” in the area on Friday, May 13th. “The reason for the Wear Purple Day is to make people aware,” said Hunt. “With the Relay just around the corner, more people want to be involved and the biggest thing you can do is show your support.”
The Paint the Town Purple campaign will culminate in the Relay for Life, a non-competitive community event where teams take turns walking around a track for 24-hours. But, that’s not all that happens. Relay for Life events have a carnival-like atmosphere with music, entertainment, on-site fund raising events and games, as well as hours of non-stop fun and laughs. This year, 33 teams and over 250 participants have will take part in the Relay for Life of St. Johns. The event is open to the public and everyone is welcome to join us. Organizers report that this Relay event is making great progress towards reaching its fundraising goal of $135,000.
The Relay will begin with a Fight Back Ceremony at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13th. A touching survivor’s victory lap will be held at 6:00 p.m., with a survivor dinner following at Smith Hall. At dusk the moving Luminaria Ceremony will be held, lighting the field with tributes honoring those who have both survived and succumbed to cancer.
Local entertainment will be featured during the event (weather permitting). Louie Longoria will kick off the Relay For Life event, playing from 3-4 p.m. Concord will then take the stage from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Sidekicks will be performing on Saturday, May 14th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a lot of family focused, fun activities planned throughout the 24 hour period. DJ services are being provided throughout the event by Sound Cruise and Digital Disc Jockey.
Cancer survivors are encouraged to join us at the Relay for the survivor celebration and victory lap. For more information about the event and activities visit www.relayforlife.org/stjohnsmi. You can also call Shelley Hunt at 989-292-1768 to register for the survivor activities. Luminaries can be purchased prior to the Relay and during the event as well.
Shelley Hunt and the entire Relay For Life of St. Johns committee are hopeful to see a sea of purple in St. Johns and Clinton County. She encourages anyone interested in finding out more information to call her at 989-292-1768.
Schedule of Events
Friday, May 13th
3:00 p.m. Relay For Life Begins
Silent Auction Begins
Live Entertainment provided by Louie Longoria
4:00 p.m. Fight Back Ceremony
4:45 p.m. Survivor Registration
6:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies / Survivor Lap
6:30 p.m. Survivor Dinner at Smith Hall
Live Entertainment at provided by Concord
9:30 p.m. (dusk) Luminary Ceremony
Saturday, May 14th
6:30 a.m. Sunrise Prayer Service,
hosted by Pilgrim United Methodist Church
10:00 a.m. Balloon Launch (Messages to Heaven)
11:00 a.m. Live Entertainment provided by Sidekicks
Noon Silent Auction Closes
2:30 p.m. Closing Ceremonies