Relay For Life returns to Washington on Saturday
Published 6:46 pm Thursday, April 4, 2019
For more than two decades, the Relay for Life of Beaufort and Hyde Counties has held a special place in the community and in the lives of local people who have been touched by cancer. From survivors and their caregivers to friends and family, the relay is an opportunity to celebrate survivors, remember those lost to the disease and make a positive impact through funds raised for the American Cancer Society.
On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the relay returns to Washington High School. The community is invited to come and join in the day’s festivities.
All told, there are 24 teams and 420 participants registered to participate in the Relay, and the community is encouraged to come out and participate in both the relay and the other events going on throughout the day, according to Relay organizer April Smith. Activities will include a fire truck pull, a classic car show, a chili cookoff, a kids relay and a host of other events.
The Survivor Ceremony begins at 6 p.m. and will feature guest speakers Dr. John Inzerillo and survivor Steve Barber. The Survivor’s lap will follow, and at 9 p.m., the WHS track will light up with luminaries, each lit in memory of someone who is fighting or has passed from cancer.
“To me, that’s my favorite part of the event,” Smith said. “It’s a moment of reflection for me. I lost my dad to cancer many years ago, so it’s a time to remember him.”
For many in Beaufort and Hyde counties, and throughout the United States, Relay for Life is an annual event that has taken on a special significance. For those who are still fighting cancer, the event is a time of hope.
“It’s something I never really understood until I participated in my first relay,” Smith said. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate, remember and fight back.”
All told, Relay For Life of Beaufort and Hyde Counties has raised $49,561 of its total goal of $95,000. To view the full schedule of this weekend’s events, or to donate to the cause, www.relayforlife.org/beaufortnc and search by zip code for “27889.”