With just a little more than a week remaining until the opening ceremonies, survivor lap and the flurry of activities that will make up the Relay For Life of Escalon in 2016, teams are putting the final touches on their game plan for the 24-hour event.
The American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, Relay For Life brings together teams of family members, friends, business associates, church members and more to walk laps around a track for a 24-hour period. The goal is to both raise money for cancer research, treatment and patient services and to raise awareness about the disease and what steps you can take toward a healthier life and reduce your risk factors.
Purple ribbons and bows now adorn many trees, street lamps and road signs throughout the community, with a special Paint The Town Purple event hosted on Saturday, June 11. Survivors were also invited to a special ‘birthday party’ celebration following the decorating and cancer survivors are the honored guests at Relay For Life.
Escalon’s event lists a dozen teams, over 170 participants and has gone over the $27,700 fundraising mark so far. Additional funds come in the way of team members getting donations and a variety of onsite fundraisers during the event itself.
Relay For Life of Escalon is scheduled for Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 on the campus of Escalon High School, with teams setting up on the football field, walking the track surrounding it.
Among the teams involved will be A Walk to Remember with team captain Desiree Beall, a team that has hosted a number of pre-Relay fundraisers and have already surpassed a total of $3,100 in fundraising. Team ETC ETC, which was a virtual team last year, will be back on scene for the 2016 event under the leadership of team captain Michael J. Andrade, and that team has raised over $1,850 so far.
Also returning this year will be Cougar Town with team captain Julie Fox at the helm, Team Roberson with team captain Melody Roberson and an Escalon High School team, under team captain James Wentzell.
Each team is representing a country, with the theme this year based on the Olympics, and each will have different fundraising opportunities, ranging from food to merchandise to gift basket drawings and more. Teams are being encouraged to decorate their booths based on their country and each is also asked to provide an informational display about some type of cancer.
The 24-hour event includes entertainment, information, fun activities and is open to all in the community. Team members have the option of staying the night and someone from each team must be on the track at all times, signifying that ‘cancer never sleeps.’
Anyone in the community that wants to attend is encouraged to come out over the weekend to take part and support the teams.
