Relay for Life Organizers Urge Strong Turnout

Organizers for the 2012 Relay for Life to be held in Warrenton say they have worked to make this year’s event even more robust than in the past and encourage individuals and families to come out for a night of activities to support cancer research and patient services.

The event, sponsored by Relay for Life of Warren County, will be held on the field at Black Hawk Middle School (BHMS) in Warrenton, kicking off at 6 p.m. Friday, June 1 and lasting until 6 a.m. Saturday, June 2. The closing ceremony will be held at 5:30 a.m. Saturday.

“We have a lot more teams registered for the relay this year,” said Sheila Gruenefeld, who along with niece Carrie Biggs, is leading this year’s event. Gruenefeld said 25 teams have signed up this year, which is about 10 more teams than last year.

“We want everyone to come,” she said, noting that she hopes the event will draw 2,000 people this time. Admission is free, but organizers are asking everyone to bring a food item to donate to local food pantries.

Kicking off the event will be a survivors’ lap at 6:30 p.m. Beyond the track, Gruenefeld says there are many activities planned on the middle of the athletic field, including live band and choir performances, zumba dancing, barrel train rides and movies.

Redbird will appear at 8:30 p.m., and a Luminaria Ceremony is planned for 10 p.m. Participants are asked to give $5 for each luminaria.

Amy Nunn, whose sister is a survivor, will sing a song she composed in honor of the occasion in honor of her sister, who is a cancer survivor.

This is Gruenefeld’s first year organizing the relay. “When my niece and I heard that the past organizer was stepping down, we said we couldn’t let the event stop, so we signed on to lead it,” she said.

All money raised at the event will go to support cancer research, prevention, education, advocacy and patient services.