Relay ready to rock night away
Just showing up to enjoy music encourages walkers

Newsboy photo/ Jimmy Galvan YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG to participate in the Relay for Life. Last year this toddler enjoyed kids activities while parents did laps around the courthouse. The Relay takes place this Friday- Saturday, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The honor of the first lap of the Relay for Life goes to cancer survivors, according to publicity chair Lloyd Persons. Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. this Friday on the courthouse square in Jasper.

The Relay is the signature fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society (ACS). The money goes for research, education, advocacy and services, many of which are available for local residents through the ACS regional office in Lufkin.

"An easy way to help is to simply attend the event," said Persons.

If watching teams walk laps around the courthouse doesn't seem the height of entertainment, consider that they plan a dance lap, a bubble lap and poker laps. They will also hold washer and horseshoe tournaments, a Crazy Hat Walk, musical chairs, and Relay Bingo and Scrabble games.

Many teams will be selling food, including the county courthouse team's spaghetti and meatballs, DETCOG's Steppers baked potatoes and dessert bar, and First National Bank's chocolate buffet with Coke floats.

People bring lawn chairs while children wander amongst face painters or follow the walkers until they wear out and sleep on blankets by their parents.

Music and live entertainment entertain crowds all night. At midnight, a Relay Idol contest will be followed by a karaoke contest.

Teams walk from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, in recognition that cancer never rests. The only time the teams will stop walking is during the Luminaria ceremony at 10 p.m. People can sponsor a luminaria in memory of someone who has lost their life to cancer, to encourage someone who is still fighting the disease, or to celebrate a survivor.

For more information, call Mary Marthaler at 384-8751 or Sandy Flores at 384-8196.