News : Relay For Life of Benton County - Luminaria

The Relay For Life of Benton County will be Friday, June 12, at the Benton Community School Track, Van Horne, beginning at 6 p.m. This annual event is the main fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in this area in their mission to save lives and create more birthdays by helping people stay well, get well and find cures by funding research.

This year's goal is $29,000.

Previous editorials addressed the funds raised by sponsorship and teams. The third portion of fundraising is luminaria.

The luminaria is a sack with a candle inside that is lit at dusk.

These luminaria remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor those who are fighting now or have won their battle. These sacks have the person's name and a short message printed on them and surround the track. All the names are read aloud during the ceremony.

I encourage everyone who has or had someone in their life touched by cancer, to fill out the luminaria form found in this week's paper and send to me with a free-will donation. This donation is also tax- deductible.

ACS volunteers can be contacted also for luminaria forms or call me (228-8148). Everyone attending the Relay is asked to bring a can of food (12 - 16 oz.). These cans will hold the candle in the sack and then will be donated to the food banks in the county.

Businesses and individuals wanting to sponsor the event may still do so by contacting Fran Magdefrau, sponsor chair @ 319-444-2791 and there still is time to get a team together, join a team or donate to a team member. Contact Pat Deklotz, online chair @ 319-446-7530 or Loretta Vogt @ 319-454-6459 for assistance. Teams and individuals can also sign up by visiting www.RelayForLife.org/BentonCountyIa or by calling 1-800-227-2345.

Mark your calendar and join us for the evening. The opening ceremony will be at 6 p.m. The survivors will be honored and take their celebration lap at 7 p.m. This year there will be a balloon release by the survivors. Specialty laps will follow the survivors lap and there will be games, face and nail painting, frozen t-shirt contest, bean bag toss and the balloon lady will entertain. The luminaria ceremony will begin at dusk and family friends may light the candles in the sacks of their loved one.

Hope to see you there.