Relay For Life teams announce all-night activities
Polk County Enterprise - April 2008
LIVINGSTON – The 7th Annual Relay For Life of Polk County is fast approaching it’s goal of raising $300,000 in the fi ght against cancer and organizers extend an invitation to the public to come and join in the fun, festivities and fi ght against cancer. Last year’s event was the number one Relay For Life event in East Texas and Polk County organizers are working hard to remain the leaders in thåe fi ght against cancer. The following events will all take place at the Trade Days area of Pedigo Park on May 2–3. The Survivor and Caregiver Celebration will kick off with a private barbecue dinner at Pedigo Park from 5 to 7 p.m. The Lions Club will begin serving hamburgers and hotdogs to the public around 5 p.m. At 7 p.m. the Opening Ceremonies begin with guest emcee Marty Drake presiding. Captain Brent Phillips will speak as a cancer survivor and the Enterprise’s own Living Editor Vicki Coker will address the crowd as a caregiver. The Onalaska Jr. ROTC will present the Texas and U.S. fl ags as Livingston High School’s band performs the National Anthem. Survivors and caregivers will then offi cially kick off the Relay For Life by walking the opening lap around the track. As darkness falls searchlights will scan the sky drawing attention to the celebration taking place at Pedigo Park. At 9 p.m. the entire park will go dark except for the comforting glow from the hundreds of luminaria bags lining the track in honor or in memory of those facing or lost to cancer. A special poetry presentation and “hush angels” will help to remind everyone of the solemnity of this ceremony which also includes a video presentation of all the names found on the luminaria. At 10 p.m. Relay For Life’s newest ceremony will take place as everyone in attendance is encouraged to Fight Back against cancer by pledging to take up the fl ag and carry the fi ght back to their daily lives. A Midnight Pizza Party with free pizza kicks off Midnight Madness with games and prizes for particpants in the buddy board races, the marshmallow game, Deep Dish Dig, Simon Says and numerous other hilarous games. With over 70 teams participating in this year’s Relay For Life, there are hundreds of opportunities to eat, shop and have fun. Baskin’s will offer hot dogs and drinks. The Baugh Family team will sell homemade wine bottle lamps. Brookshire Bros. will sell ribeye sandwiches along with chances on a barbecue pit, a deer feeder, a recliner, an 8-piece patio set and a 5-day Carnival Cruise. The City of Livingston will once again offer boiled crawfi sh with all the trimmings and shrimp etouffee. Curves for Women will be selling cotton candy, hot chocolate and coffee, while the Ding-A-Lings team is offering chances on a Nintendo Wii, a digital photo frame and wo baskets of goodies as well as offering food and drinks at their “La Belle Cafe”. Eastex Telephone will sell popcorn, Faith Christian Center will have red beans and rice with sausage and cornbread along with facepainting and chances on a rifl e. First National Bank is offering chances on a $500 savings bond and First Presbyterian will be selling New Orleans-style fresh beignets and Mardi Gras beads. First State Bank will offer glow in the dark necklaces and tattoos along with live music and wax art. Gabriel Jordan Ford will sell gatorballs and fried fish and will host a “Flipper and Goggle Walk”. Georgia-Pacific has sausage on a stick on their menu while Goodrich ISD will sell slushes and snacks and host a Mardi Gras mask making station. H-E-B will host the dunking booth and LHS Faculty’s team will also offer Mardi Gras mask making. The LHS Student Council will sell non-alcoholic Hurricanes, glow necklaces and a balloon dart throw game. Livingston Intermediate will offer chances on a crocheted bed doll in Mardi Gras colors and a ring-toss game. Livingston Jr. High will run the New Orleans City Jail and sell nachos. Livingston Telephone will offer lighted balloons while MannaFest will sell their delicious homemade pies, flavored coffees, Fight Back glow bracelets and chances on a Relay-themed quilt. Memorial Medical Center will have a batting cage set up and will also sell frappuccino and flavored coffees. The Onalaska Wildcats will hold drawings for giant cookie and sell halos and tunnel light necklaces. P.E.A.R.L.S. will be selling Taco Soup and Pedigo Furniture will sell chances on furniture items. Pine Ridge Elementary will sell cotton candy and offer hair painting and karaoke. The Polk County Tax Office is offering walking tacos while Polk County Title is selling chances on a 4-burner stainless grill, will host a silent auction for Omaha steaks, a Sony mp3 player, Apple iPod Nano and digital photo frames. They will also offer nachos and baked goods. SHECO will offer chances to spin the Mardi Gras wheel along with chance drawings for a 16GB iPod, an HDTV and entertainment package plus the Mardi Gras ball drop at midnight. Pickle pops and fruit will also be for sale. Team Texas Cruisers are offering chances on a weekend trip to Moody Gardens, a gas grill and $100 cash. The Associates team from Wal-Mart will serve gumbo, sell Mardi Gras masks along with necklaces and drinks. The Believers will be selling frozen, non-alcoholic Yard Dogs, HOPE t-shirts, as well as chances on Astros tickets and a leather recliner. The Center for Sight will offer snow cones and chances on a two pair of designer sunglasses while Timbercreek Elementary will sell Frito pies and nachos. The event will conclude with a hot breakfast served to all in attendance, drawings for prizes for team participants who made it through the night, and the awards ceremony. Everyone takes one final, victorious lap to celebrate the rising of the sun, the coming of a new day and an opportunity to renew the fight against cancer. For more information about Relay For Life of Polk County or to make a donation, visit www. polkcountyrelay.org or contact Chairman James Baugh at 936- 327-4357.