Relay For Life coming up this weekend
June 11, 2013, 1:13 am
Kristen McEwen
Only a few days, and a couple of meetings, separates organizer Kristen Murray from the upcoming Wawota Relay For Life event set to take place on June 15.
"(It's been) awesome," Murray said. "I can't wait until the 15th to see it all come together. We have a very good committee that's backing us, it's been lots of fun."
Murray said the Relay For Life committee had one more meeting to finalize and prepare the venue.
The committee is also calling on volunteers to help with printing luminaries on June 12 at the Wawota Community Forum at 7 p.m. The luminaries, which have been purchased to honour those who have or have had cancer, will also be set up at the rink that evening.
So far Relay For Life has raised a total of $22,342. There are three different categories the committee is focusing on this year, pledges, corporate sponsorship and team fundraisers.
"The goal is $50,000 for pledges, corporate sponsorship was $10,000 and team fundraisers was $25,000. So that's sitting at (a total of) $85,000," Murray said.
"Our representative with the Canadian Cancer Society is pretty confident that we'll break $100,000," she added.
With some donations sitting with the Canadian Cancer Society, the Wawota Relay For Life committee won't have a complete total of the money raised until after the event is over.
For those who have not purchased luminaries and would like to, they will be available at the registration table until 9:30 p.m. on the evening of Relay for Life. Other donations will also be accepted. The luminary goal this year is 2,000. Murray expects that most of the goal has been met so far.
She added that the committee set out to encourage cancer survivors to join in the Relay for Life walk. So far a total of 40 survivors have registered.
Murray said on Friday, June 14, the day before the big event, set up for the venue is set to begin at 5 p.m. Anyone is welcome to help.
With approximately 30 teams registered with a total of 300 participants, Murray is looking forward to the evening.
From 6 p.m. on Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday morning, Relay for Life teams will be walking the track that leads through the Wawota Community forum and around the outside of the building.
At any given time, one member of each team must be on the track.
Fortunately, Murray has some entertainment planned to keep the dedicated participants from nodding off.
"We have entertainment starting on the stage at 7 p.m.," Murray said. "The stage will always have something going on whether it's somebody singing, or somebody dancing."
Owen Garratt who took third place on "Canada's Greatest Know It All" will be emceeing the event.
Later in the evening he will also be hosting "Wawota's Greatest Know It All."
The luminary ceremony will take place at 10 p.m.
Team activities will take place throughout the evening.
"There will be team activities at 1 a.m. for when they start to get sleepy to wake them up," Murray added.
For those attending the event, Murray said there will be about 150 folding chairs available, however if individuals would like to bring their own chairs they are welcome to. Team members are encouraged to bring their own cups for coffee to save on recycling.
Supper will also be available for purchase starting at 4:30 p.m.
One final fundraiser is going to be held before Relay For Life. Team Homes for Hope is hosting The Chili Cup for Cancer on June 11. It will be held at the Drop-In Centre in Wawota starting at 5:30 p.m.
People are welcome to enter a submission or attend and try some mouth watering chili. Everyone in attendance will get a chance to vote and crown the Chili Champ. All proceeds will be donated to Relay For Life. For more information contact Dalelynn Fahlman at 306-577-1846. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15.
