Events and Activities : Relay for life set for Friday in Vinton

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Benton County will be this Friday, June 7, 2013, at the Vinton-Shellsburg Track. Everyone is invited to this celebration of more birthdays and this year, also celebrating the 100th birthday of the American Cancer Society. The schedule for the evening is: 5:00 Registration begins and continues throughout the evening. 6:00 Opening ceremony with welcome by Vinton Mayor John Watson, prayer with Pastor Stephen Preus, Trinity Lutheran, Vinton, presentation of flags by Benton County Legionaires and the national anthem sung by Jon DeGraff. 7:00 Survivor Celebration with Brenda Lange sharing her survivor¹s journey, the Survivor Victory Lap and a second lap for caregivers and family. 9:00 Luminiaria Ceremony with the names ³in memory of² and ³in honor of² read by Pastor David Lingard, St. Andrew Lutheran, Van Horne. 9:30 Caregivers Ceremony 10:00 Twenty-minute lap challenge and other theme and fun laps. 11:25 Candle Service Ceremony and closing. Music will be provided by Mitch Long DJ services. Jon DeGraff will be reading special poems during the evening. There will be members from approximately 20 teams fighting back by walking the track. Theme laps will have items available for a dollar donation. There will be cancer trivia questions throughout the evening and a sand box with hidden treasures for the children. There will be numerous Relay items, cancer bracelets and necklaces for sale. Team fundraisers include a silent auction and a quilt raffle. Concessions will be provided by Vinton Lions and Peppy¹s Ice Cream. The committee is asking everyone attending the relay to bring a can of food (approximately 14 ounces). These cans will hold the candle in the bag and then will be donated to the food banks in the county. Sponsors for the relay are: Hope ($600+): The Watkins Savings Bank, The Star Press Union and BellePlaine Rotary Club; Faith ($400 - $599): Atkins Lumber Co. and Cedar Valley Farms; Courage ($200 - $399): Atkins Savings Bank & Trust, Rabe Hardware, Van Horne Cooperative Telephone Co., Clingman Pharmacy, Eden Mutual Insurance, LaGrange Pharmacy, Coon Creek Telephone Co., Vinton Noon Kiwanis, Benton County Chapter of Thrivent 31120, Wilson/Hite Insurance, Belle Plaine Subway, Iowa Mold & Engineering Inc., Titan Machinery and P&K Midwest. Committee members to contact for more information are teams Loretta Vogt (454-6459), survivors Frieda Davis (319-472-5348), luminaria Sally Donald (228-8148), or Heidi at the American Cancer Society (1-888-266-2071 ext. 7107) Everyone is invited to spend the evening celebrating, remembering and fighting back. Bring your lawn chairs.