Relay For Life
We had a great time last night at the Relay For Life in Blanchard. Every year our scout troop is asked to perform the opening flag ceremony and to prepare all the Luminaries. We had several scouts in attendance. This is the third year we have done the Relay with Tyler.
Before the beginning of the ceremony, survivors and their care givers are served dinner. Shortly after that, around 7:00pm, the opening ceremony begins. We start with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the singing of the National Anthem. This is followed by the reading of names of sponsors and donors for the year. Shortly after that, each survivors name is read aloud and they come to the front to get a rose and get in line to begin the Survivors Walk which is one lap around the track followed by one more lap with their care givers.
Next is just a time of music and walking around the track. The Relay goes all night until 7:00am. Teams are to always have someone in their group walking the track at all times to signify the fight to end cancer never stops. During this time, the scouts and volunteers are preparing the Luminaries for the ceremony at 10:00pm. These are paper bags filled will a little sand and a candle placed inside. These represent a survivor or someone who has lost their life to cancer. These bags are placed around the track and the candles are lit as the lights come done.
The Luminary Ceremony starts after all the candles are lit. This is followed by the reading of the names on every bag. As soon as all the names are read, everyone takes another lap around the track as all the lights are out and only the luminaries are lit. After that the lights come on and it's music, games, food and walking the track all night.
Here are some pictures from last night.
Before the beginning of the ceremony, survivors and their care givers are served dinner. Shortly after that, around 7:00pm, the opening ceremony begins. We start with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the singing of the National Anthem. This is followed by the reading of names of sponsors and donors for the year. Shortly after that, each survivors name is read aloud and they come to the front to get a rose and get in line to begin the Survivors Walk which is one lap around the track followed by one more lap with their care givers.
Next is just a time of music and walking around the track. The Relay goes all night until 7:00am. Teams are to always have someone in their group walking the track at all times to signify the fight to end cancer never stops. During this time, the scouts and volunteers are preparing the Luminaries for the ceremony at 10:00pm. These are paper bags filled will a little sand and a candle placed inside. These represent a survivor or someone who has lost their life to cancer. These bags are placed around the track and the candles are lit as the lights come done.
The Luminary Ceremony starts after all the candles are lit. This is followed by the reading of the names on every bag. As soon as all the names are read, everyone takes another lap around the track as all the lights are out and only the luminaries are lit. After that the lights come on and it's music, games, food and walking the track all night.
Here are some pictures from last night.
This is Tyler with other scouts getting ready to perform the flag ceremony.
Here is Tyler going forward to get his rose and getting ready for the Survivors Walk.
Serenity posing while I help get the luminaries ready.
Tyler and Jennifer.
Here is Tyler's luminary.
This is the reading of the sponsors and other announcements following the opening.
You can see the huge circle of luminaries placed around the track.
Tyler is a 10 year survivor of Leukemia. My dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer last July, and his brother George was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in November. Jennifer's dad is a survivor of Acinic Cell Carcinoma.
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