There’s still plenty of time to get involved in the Relay For Life of Escalon – and Relay Community Manager Dena Pimentel said officials are looking for a few more teams to get Escalon to its 2017 goal.
The next meeting of the Event Leadership Team is scheduled for today, Wednesday, April 12 at 5:45 p.m. in the Escalon Community Ambulance Station, 1480 Ullrey Ave., Escalon. The Team Captain meeting follows at 6:30 p.m.; all interested in learning more about or getting involved in the Relay, set for May 20 and 21 at Escalon High School, are welcome to attend.
Pimentel said the goal is to have 16 teams involved in Relay this year – more if possible – and the team list currently stands at an even dozen. Several teams return from past years, but she is also looking for church groups, school organizations, families and businesses to join up and help in the fight against cancer.
“We are looking for more teams or even people that just want to participate,” Pimentel said, noting that people can be placed on a team if they don’t have one.
The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is a 24-hour team relay, with at least one member from each team on the track at all times during the period. Walking, running, skipping – any mode of movement will do, the idea is to stay on the track continuously, signifying the fact that ‘cancer never sleeps.’
There are theme laps, entertainment, contests, food, opportunity drawings and more at the actual event, along with special recognition for cancer survivors and caregivers. An evening luminaria ceremony features a slide show honoring survivors and remembers those lost to the disease, with lighted luminaria bags then lighting the track throughout the night for walkers.
Fundraising goal for Escalon this year is $43,500 and pre-event fundraising so far is close to the $14,000 mark.
Escalon hopes to have at least 24 survivors as part of their event as well, the survivors leading off the 24-hour Relay with the Survivor Lap.
Escalon High School’s football stadium hosts Relay, with teams setting up campsites on the grassy area while participants walk around the track surrounding the infield.
Among the Theme Laps scheduled this year are Superhero, Sports, Disney, Mardi Gras and Patriotic, just to name a few.
A Survivor Luncheon is being planned for Saturday, May 6 and those attending will receive information about the activities scheduled just for survivors at Relay, with the luncheon scheduled for 1 p.m. at Grandpa’s Barn on Enterprise Road.
Several fundraising events – both by individual teams and the Escalon Relay as a whole – are coming up within the next few weeks as well.
A fundraising night to benefit the Relay For Life of Escalon will be hosted at D’Boni’s Pizza in Escalon on Wednesday, April 26 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Mention that you’re there for Relay For Life and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the local event. D’Boni’s Pizza is at 2249 Jackson Ave., Escalon. Good for eat in, take out or delivery.
The eighth annual Ride The Rails For Relay event on the Niles Canyon Railway is set for Saturday, April 29, with three different departure times available. Contact Gerri Andrade for information and tickets, 209-324-6947 or email at gmagerri@sbcglobal.net.
Tickets are also now available for the Thursday, May 4 Texas Roadhouse dinner, which will be staged at El Portal Middle School, 805 First St., Escalon. Buy your tickets from any Relay committee or team member, then come to the school parking lot anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 4 to pick up your pulled pork and chicken breast dinner, which also includes coleslaw, corn and bread and butter. Cost per ticket is $15.
Theme for the Relay For Life of Escalon this year is ‘holidays’ and each team will choose a holiday to use as the basis for its booth decorations. For additional information, contact Pimentel at 209-996-3665.
