Celebrate. Remember. Fight back. This is the mantra of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Relay for Life, a community-based team support event for all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. In more than 5,200 communities and 27 countries around the world, Relay for Life is organized and participated in annually by volunteers. This year’s Brown County relay will take place Friday, June 2, beginning at 6 PM, at the Fairgrounds and will end the morning of June 3.
The event brings the Aberdeen community together each summer to remember loved ones, honor survivors, and support and recognize caregivers. Teams raise money for each lap they walk, in the idea that, because cancer never sleeps, neither will the volunteers for one night. At least one team member must be on the track at all times, no matter how tired, in a gesture of solidarity to all of those fighting the disease. Donations go toward funding groundbreaking cancer research, critical patient care services, and education and preventative initiatives, among many others, according to the website.
This year, the opening ceremonies begin at 7 PM in the Expo building, followed by a survivor lap, caregiver ceremony, fight back ceremony and finally, closing ceremonies, which ends the 12 hour relay. And when the night gets long, Rob VanMeter of the Dancing Jukebox will provide tunes, while games like hotdog eating contests, bingo, LipSync Battle, etc., keep volunteers awake. // — Erin Ballard
Up-to-date information about the event can be found on the Relay for Life of Brown County SD Facebook page. Contact the Brown County Relay for Life co-chairs Allison Disbrow, 605-290-0332, or Amanda Twete, 605-228-1072, with questions, comments, or for general information. To register or donate, visit acsevents.org.
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