Relay For Life, Bertie County’s annual American Cancer Society fundraiser is two weeks away and, according to Bobbie Parker, everything is on schedule.
“We are asking the community to encourage kids to register for the May 17 Relay For Life Kids Walk,” said Parker.
Last year’s Kids Walk was a huge success and the committee anticipates more participants this year.
The Kids Walk is a fun celebration designed for young people up to age 12 to participate and get involved in Relay For Life. The children are invited to walk around the track and enjoy a number of activities and games during the event. Each child completes a registration form and tries to raise at least $25.
The male and female who raise the most money will be crowned Little Miss and Little Mr. Relay
In light of the May 17 event, the Bertie County Board of Education authorized closing schools early on that Friday in preparation for the walk.
Bertie County Schools Superintendent Dr. Otis Smallwood is excited about the event.
“Bertie County Schools have played a crucial role in the success of Relay For Life in the county. The Bertie County School District was among the first in North Carolina to achieve 100 percent school participation,” said Dr. Smallwood “To continue this legacy of support and community involvement, I am proposing converting May 17, into an early release day to ensure maximum participation and engagement.”
Smallwood anticipates a strong Bertie County Schools turnout.
Luminarias are also an important component to the fundraising efforts of Bertie Relay For Life. Participation from the community in lighting up the event has always been supportive and this year is no different, according to Parker.
“We need to share the need for luminarias in the community,” said Parker.
The Luminaria Ceremony takes place at nightfall when the Flames of Hope are lit to honor cancer survivors or in remembrance of those who lost their battle with the disease. The flames burn throughout the event serving as a reminder of the purpose of Relay For Life.
This year’s Relay For Life is the organization’s 31 consecutive event scheduled for Friday, May 17 at 6: p.m.
Last year’s Relay For Life raised close to $200,000 and this year the goal is to top that. Currently, there are 92 teams registered for the walk.
Anticipation is once again high for the “Divine Nine,” a delegation of sororities and fraternities that attend annually showcasing their continued support and gratitude to the survivors.
The Relay For Life is a national event, however, each walk is unique to the community it serves, and embraces the four signature elements, a celebration of cancer survivors, a celebration of caregivers, a lumnaria ceremony and the opportunity to fight back against the disease.
Committees have been meeting for months. The final meeting before the walk is being held on May 13 at the Bertie School Central Office at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to all participants and will outline final steps before the event.
Sponsorships are still available along with personal donations.
For more information on how you can walk, sponsor, or volunteer contact bjparker@roadrunner.com
This year’s Relay for Life begins at 6-10 p.m., Friday May 17.
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