Relay For Life returns to the track next week

The annual Ritzville Relay For Life is making its return to the track facility in Ritzville on Saturday, July 12.

The event has undergone moderation this year, and spans from noon on Saturday until midnight, instead of being an overnight event.

Another addition to the event is the combination of Relay and the Grateful to be Alive Block Party, sponsored by Ritzville Drug, Hometown Family Medicine and The Journal.

The changes are being implemented this year to encourage more individuals to attend the event, which is dedicated to cancer awareness. The purpose of the Block Party is to promote healthy living and celebrate those who have fought the battle with cancer.

Relay For Life committee members made the decision to move the event to a Saturday and run it as a daytime event with the intent of providing all ages with a fun and safe weekend activity. The games and activities at the Relay event are diverse in order to provide all age groups and families with entertaining outdoor activities.

The event begins at noon with the opening ceremonies, honoring and recognizing local individuals who have battled cancer. After an introduction and invocation, all area cancer survivors are invited to walk to the first lap to be recognized for battling and beating cancer.

Upon the conclusion of the Survivor’s Lap, all in attendance are invited to walk an opening lap to kick off Relay and begin the day’s activities.

All local cancer survivors are invited to a luncheon in Gilson Gymnasium to enjoy a full meal prepared by Mike Telecky and volunteers. The meal is provided free of charge to survivors from 12:15 p.m. until 1:15 p.m.

The Grateful to be Alive Block Party officially begins at 1 p.m. and provides a variety of carnival games for children to participate in, including Plinko, duck pond and water pong.

Tickets are sold for the cost of 25 cents or five for a dollar, and each game has a ticket price associated with it.

Also onsite, youngsters can bounce in the Tropical Bounce House, while all ages are invited to play a game of Twister on the giant inflatable platform. Both of the inflatable games are open for play throughout the entire event.

Another activity available throughout the day is a painted water fight, where groups can team up to take on another team at the event, with prizes awarded to the day’s top placing team.

Relay t-shirts are available for a cost to wear during the contest.

The remainder of the night is spent playing a variety of games to keep the event upbeat and energized.

After dusk, the luminaria ceremony highlights the evening’s activities by remembering those who have lost the battle to cancer and celebrating those who have survived the terrible disease.

All of the proceeds from the event are donated to the American Cancer Society to aid with cancer research and support programs available for cancer patients.

For more information about the Ritzville Relay For Life event, contact Katelin Davidson at 659-1020 or visit http://relayforlife.org.ritzvillewa.