Relay For Life Goes With Plan B

The Northeast Montana Relay for Life will be held at a new venue this year, after setting up for many years at the Glasgow High School track. Organizers were making their plans last spring before voting on the two school levies took place. If the second part of the levy had passed, the track would have been under construction right now, so a Plan B was necessary.

The Fair Commission gave permission to use the Northeast Montana Fairgrounds for the Relay. The track will be smaller than at the high school, but gravel has been added and packed, and organizers think it will provide enough room. Events will be concentrated to revolve around the free stage so people can hear everything. There is room for team tents and campers on the fairgrounds. No tents will be necessary for the Survivor Reception, silent auctions and other activities, because these will be held under the grandstand.

The 2013 Relay for Life is July 26 and 27 from 7 p.m. Friday night until 9 a.m. Saturday morning. With activities all around the free stage area, everyone including the walkers will be able to hear and participate in everything happening on stage. The Survivor Reception starts at 5:30 p.m. under the grandstand, where all cancer survivors and their caregivers are welcome to eat. The Relay for Life will open at 7 p.m. with area military veterans presenting the American flag and talented Peyton Cole singing the national anthem.

Cancer survivor Bob Connors, the Glasgow school superintendent, is this year’s keynote speaker and survivor Skip Erickson will light the “Flame of Hope.” Area cancer survivors will lead the “Relay Laps,” followed by all 23 teams. Each team will then have a member of their team walking on the track for the following 14 hours.

The track will circle the stage and Fair Office area and will be lined with luminarias. The Luminaria Ceremony will begin at 10 p.m. with the lighting of the luminarias and a quiet time while all names and pictures are scrolled on a big screen.

Under the grandstand, people can bid on items in two silent auctions, one closing at 11 p.m. and one at 11:45, browse and shop at the Relay Store and visit the “Remembrance” area, where they can reflect and honor those who have lost the battle. At midnight the “Fight Back” ceremony will include lighting and releasing Chinese lanterns. After that the people in attendance can enjoy pizzas and sub sandwiches at the Knights of Columbus food booth.

During the event, Relay teams and various vendors will offer items for sale with proceeds going to the Relay. Games, music and entertainment will be held throughout the night with the famous Amazing Race starting at 2 a.m. and ending at 4 a.m. (Fifteen adult drivers are needed for this event, so come and help out!) Brad Persinger will revive everyone at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning with “Reveille” and then breakfast will be served.

Final wrap-up, fundraising reports and awards will begin at 8 a.m. with the ending victory lap at 9 a.m.

Almost everyone has known someone affected by cancer or has been affected by cancer. The Relay for Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated. Please join in the fight against cancer by attending the Northeast Montana Relay for Life and showing your support of this amazing fundraising event.

If anyone would like to purchase a luminaria in memory of a friend or loved one or in honor of a survivor, contact any Relay team member or Jamie Seyfert at 230-0137 or Miranda Palm at 263-2187.

Anyone from the Glasgow area needing a ride to the Relay can call Valley Transit and the fee will be paid by Edward Jones.