From The Trussville Tribune Staff Reports
TRUSSVILLE — Trussville’s annual Relay for Life is fast approaching on April 22. Festivities kick off at 4:30 p.m. in the open area outside of Spare Time Bowling.
“Relay for Life is an opportunity to celebrate, remember and fight back,” said Elizabeth Pridgen, Relay For Life Event Leadership Team Volunteer.
The event will include activities for survivors and supporters of all ages.
Survivors will be honored at 6 p.m. with a Survivor Lap, decked out in a strand of beads for every year they have been in remission from cancer. They can also leave their mark by putting a handprint on the Wall of Hope alongside their name and number of years they’ve been a survivor.
Survivors also get a free dinner, courtesy of ChickFilA.
The event has 25 confirmed teams so far, breaking down to 129 individuals who have raised approximately $14,706. In addition to all of the fundraising done on the front end of the event, teams also have onsite fundraisers, and will be selling everything from hot dogs, to popcorn, to cotton candy and even boutique clothing. Proceeds from onsite fundraising will also be benefitting the American Cancer Society.
The younger crowd can participate in carnival games and inflatables.
For Pridgen, the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life are close to her heart, as she lost her sister to cancer in 2009.
“I had never heard of Relay for Life, and in the spring of 2009, still angry and bitter and upset over losing my baby sister, someone invited me to Moody’s Relay for Life,” said Pridgen.
Pridgen said it was during the Luminara ceremony that she knew she had to help.
During the Luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m., candles will be lit inside of white paper bags honoring those who have been touched by or lost to cancer. The ceremony culminates with a moment of reflection for all those who have passed.
“Then we turn the music back up and party, because we’re fighting back,” said Pridgen.
Live musical guests include the CCHS Cougar Choir, Nashville Bound, Raquel Lilly, Peter Francks, The Blue Devils, Mr. Leonard Watkins and Pyrite Parachute.
Prior to the event will be a survivor dinner sponsored by Trussville Civitan.
The dinner will take place Sunday, April 17 at the Trussville Civic Center, and at this time, there are more than 40 confirmed attendees and their caregivers.
Any cancer survivor wishing to attend can RSVP to eastjeffersonalrelay@gmail.com. The event includes complimentary dinner, door prizes, a guest speaker and time of fellowship.
Anyone who wishes to learn more about Trussville’s Relay for Life, sign up their team or donate, can click here.