Relay For Life kicks off Friday night

By: 
Staff report

     The 2018 American Cancer Society Relay For Life Jones County is just around the corner!

     Help the community honor those who have battled cancer by attending the event on Friday, Aug. 10, from 5-10 p.m. at Dean Nelson Field in Monticello.

     The Relay committee has been working hard to plan and offer a long-time community event that ended several years ago. The hope is to raise $5,000 for the ACS through team registrations, sponsorships, and a silent auction.

     Beginning at 4 p.m., teams and individual walkers and participants can come down and register for the evening. Team registration on Aug. 10 is $50. The RFL committee said they currently have 15 teams that have pre-registered.

     If you don’t have a team, you can still participate in the event by walking the track, enjoying the activities, taking part in the silent auction, and eating at the concession stand.

     At that time, you can also purchase luminaries for $5 in memory or in honor of a loved one touched by cancer, both survivors and those who have passed on. There will be an opportunity to decorate your luminaries as well.

     Cancer survivors and caregivers can also register at that time to take part in the special walk.

     The silent auction will run from 4-8:30 p.m. There are several items on the auction donated by local businesses to help support the cause:

     • Gift baskets

     • Lottery tickets

     • Gift certificates

     • Hair products

     • Gym memberships

     • Lawn decorations

     • Home décor

     • Cookware sets

     • Outdoor goodie bags

     • Handmade crafts

     • And much more

     A concession stand will also open at 4 p.m. RFL committee members and volunteers will be running the stand all evening.

     The Opening Ceremony will kick off at 5 p.m. This will include a welcome to those in attendance, the singing of the National Anthem by Sydney Freeze of Monticello, raising of the flag, and the opening prayer led by Pastor Doug DiBell with New Life Community Church of the Nazarene.

     This year’s RFL keynote speaker will be Linda Siebels of Monticello. Siebels is a cancer survivor.

     Following the speeches, the cancer survivors will take the first lap around the track, followed by a lap with the caregivers. Teams can take their lap after the caregivers.

     Live music will be provided all night, courtesy of DJ Johnson of Monticello.

     There will be plenty of activities to keep kids busy throughout the RFL. Kids games will run from 6-8 p.m.:

     • Obstacle course

     • Musical chairs

     • Outdoor scavenger hunt

     • Bean bag toss

     • Face painting, hair braiding, nail painting

     • A surprise visit from the Jellystone Campground mascots

     • A clown

     • A dunk tank featuring local celebrities

     Those taking a turn in the dunk tank include: City Administrator Doug Herman at 6 p.m., Scott Brighton with Advantage Home Medical at 6:30 p.m., Monticello Wrestling and Midland Girls Track Coach Ryan Luensman at 7 p.m., Nate Freeze with Fidelity Bank & trust at 7:30 p.m., and Monticello Football Coach Wes Wilson at 8 p.m.

     There is also quite a line-up of entrainment planned as well from 6-8:30 p.m.:

     • Monticello High School Dance Team at 6 p.m.

     • Anamosa High School Dance Team at 6:15 p.m.

     • Almost Famous Competition Gym Team at 6:30 p.m.

     • Almost Famous Competition Dance Team at 6:45 p.m.

     • KM Dance Company at 7 p.m.

     • MHS Cheer at 7:15 p.m.

     • Almost Famous Limbo/hula hoop contest at 7:30 p.m.

     • B.E. Fitness Yoga Class at 8 p.m.

     At dusk (9-10 p.m.), the luminaries will be lit around the track, with the Closing Ceremony to follow.

     To keep up on the latest, following the RFL on Facebook at “Relay For Life Of Jones County.”

 

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