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The honorary survivor at
this event is Laura Doornbos, a 2002 graduate of Olympia High School
who currently attends Illinois State University, where she is a
member of the volleyball team. She has successfully battled cancer
and will share her story.
The opening ceremony will begin at noon and will honor emergency
services personnel from surrounding communities. The national anthem
and a color guard will highlight the ceremony.
Following the opening ceremony, the participating Relay For Life
teams will begin walking around the track and selling various items
-- from baked goods to crafts -- from their campsites.
Two auctions will be run simultaneously -- a Chinese auction and
a silent auction. Both will feature items donated by the Relay For
Life teams and the event sponsors. These auctions begin at noon and
will end at 7 p.m.
Youth activities, courtesy of the Olympia High School student
council, will be held with the youth lap, which is scheduled for 3
p.m.
Area cancer survivors will be celebrated at the survivor lap at
5:30 p.m. After this lap, survivors will be served a complimentary
dinner at 6:15 p.m.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, Relay participants and
visitors will be entertained by several outstanding musical acts.
Aces Wild, Danny Cunningham and the Olympia High School Drumline,
Dave Berchtold, Patsy Stone, the State Farm Chorus, and The Mark
Cooper Band have graciously donated their time to this cause.
The luminaria ceremony will be at 9:30 p.m. This is an emotional
highlight of the Relay, when cancer survivors and victims are
individually honored by the lighting of a candle.
Walkers will continue throughout the night and early morning
hours, accompanied by Thunder 'n' Lightning DJ.
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The closing ceremony will be around 6 a.m. Sunday. The theme of
this ceremony will be the reality of cancer, including the feelings
of those who must return home without a loved one or to face their
own personal battles against cancer.
This is the fourth year for the event in Minier. Last year the
participants raised almost $50,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Directions to Olympia West Elementary Park, Minier:
From the Lincoln area:
Take Interstate 155 north to the Hopedale exit for Route 122
east. Proceed seven miles east to Minier. Turn right onto Maple
Street (at the Casey's gas station). Continue four blocks south to
Peoria Street and turn left (St. John's United Church of Christ is
on the left). The school and park and one block ahead.
From the Bloomington area:
Take Market Street-Route 9 west out of Bloomington. Do not
turn when Route 9 turns right (north) toward Danvers; continue
straight (west). The road is now Route 122. Follow the road as it
curves south and then west again before passing Stanford. Minier is
the next town. Turn left onto Maple Street (at the Casey's gas
station). Continue four blocks south to Peoria Street and turn left
(St. John's United Church of Christ is on the left). The school and
park are one block ahead.
From the Peoria area:
Take I-155 south to the Hopedale exit for Route 122 east. Proceed
seven miles east to Minier. Turn right onto Maple Street (at the
Casey's gas station). Continue four blocks south to Peoria Street
and turn left (St. John's United Church of Christ is on the left).
The school and park are one block ahead.
[News release] |
