Relay for Life hosts walk, fundraiser this Saturday

 Relay for Life will be celebrating its 30th birthday Saturday in Montgomery County at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Red Oak. 

The annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society starts with the survivors lunch from noon-1:30 p.m. 

This year’s honorary chairs, Barry Lovig, Shannon and Jason Taylor and Rob and Lea Anne Peterson, will be introduced during opening ceremonies from 1:50-2:30 p.m., which culminates with the traditional survivor lap. 

Rev. Dave MacDonald will provide the first of two inspirational speeches at 3 p.m., followed by the first themed lap of “cowboys.”

Other themed laps include “clowning around” at 4 p.m., “the 80’s” at 5 p.m., “happy birthday” at 6 p.m., “the 50s” at 7 p.m. and “favorite team” at 8 p.m. 

 Other highlights of the evening include a second inspirational speaker, newly-hired Montgomery County Memorial Hospital CEO David Abercrombie, at 6 p.m. and the traditional luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. 

New events for this year include Too Hot Tomatoes, a do-it-yourself painting exercise taught by Tracy Lovett and Sara Holt from 5-6 p.m., and a comedian, Roger McQueen, performing at 6:30 p.m. 

There is also a birthday cake contest starting at 4 p.m. with judging from 4:30-5 p.m. The honorary chairs will select the award winning cakes based on taste and aesthetic appeal. 

All birthday cake entries will then be served from 5:30-6 p.m. 

Other highlights include singers, dance performances, line dancing and a silent auction from 3-6 p.m. inside the gold fair building. 

As the previous two Relays for Life were forced indoors due to rain, organizers already have a contingency plan in place if the same happens this year. 

However, many of the activities are already planned to take place inside the Gold Fair Building, so rainy weather shouldn’t cause too much inconvenience. 

Organizers have set a goal of $50,000 for this year’s event, the same as in 2014, when it raised just more than $51,000.