Event to include 22 Relay for Life teams

After months of planning by the Relay for Life Committee and months of fundraising by ambitious Relay teams, the big event is right around the corner. Held at the Perham High School track/Ted Meinhover field in Perham, this year’s event promises lots of fun, food, and celebration. The event will be held on Friday night, July 14, any time between 5:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Saturday.

This year’s Relay for Life boasts 22 teams, four of which are new to the event. These teams will be hosting many fun activities and tantalizing treats at their campsites around the track. Some of the things to enjoy include a silent auction, kids games, wacky hair, a kids’ bounce house, and education activities.  

“Come out to the track for supper,” said Lisa Peterson, event chair. “You can choose from pizza on the grill, tacos in a bag, turkey sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, fry bread, baked potato bar, brats and hotdogs, smoothies and shakes, and much more.”  

The night is also a great time to connect with friends and to support cancer survivors.  

The schedule of events include: 

• 2 p.m. – Luminary set-out – Public is encouraged to help

• 5:30 p.m. – Activities start- (silent auction, kids’ games, bounce house, wacky hair, education activities, advocacy tent, food)

• 7:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, featuring Survivors Lap and dove release

• -9 p.m.- Activities continue

• 8:30 p.m. – Raffle winners announced

• 9:15 p.m. – Luminaria Ceremony, with speeches from Honorary Co-Chairs

  • 10 p.m. – Silent auction closes 

• 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. – Pancake breakfast by candlelight 

• 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.- All-Night Hope Club activities (hourly activities, drawings)

• 6 a.m. – Closing Ceremony followed by Luminary Cleanup

This year’s silent auction promises many treasures for bidders to compete to buy. Among these include a Homecrest three-piece patio set (two chairs and a table), a handcrafted black ash two-drawer hall table, survivors quilt featuring purple fabrics and survivors t-shirt tops, two half-hogs processed to your specifications, a quilted wall hanging made of Minnesota prints, two sets of Twins tickets (two seats in Dugout 1, Row 4 and four seats in Dugout 2,Row 5), tickets to the Relay For Life beer and brats event in February, and much more. People can begin bidding on items at 5:30 p.m. and continue to bid until the silent auction closes at 10 p.m.

Highlights of the evening include the Opening Ceremony at 7:30 p.m and the Luminaria Ceremony at 9:15 p.m. 

The Opening Ceremony celebrates local cancer survivors, who will walk the Survivors Lap as a group.  As the survivors finish their lap, the very moving dove release will take place. The ceremony ends with the 22 teams walking in the team lap.  

At 9:15 p.m., the Luminaria Ceremony will feature speeches by the 2023 Honorary Co-Chairs, Pastor Erin Bovendam and Dean Simpson. Following these speeches and a short ceremony, the luminaries that line the track will be lit, accompanied by piano music provided by Leona Rogers. 

The activities of the night continue long after the luminaries are lit.  Because “cancer never sleeps,” many of the Relay for Life participants are busy throughout the night. 

One of the new teams, Branden’s Cancer Crusaders of Crow Wing County, will be serving a late-night pancake breakfast from 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. The breakfast of pancakes, sausages, and eggs can be enjoyed by the light of the luminaries for $7-10. People who work night shifts or just like to be up at night can come out and enjoy some late-night laps around the luminary-lined track and/or enjoy a pancake breakfast. Early risers are encouraged to come out and walk a few laps before helping with luminary clean up.