KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Tomorrow more than 24 teams will gather at Woody Way Field for the annual Relay for Life. Sarah Nugent is the survivorship chairperson for this year’s event, and said the 24-hour relay is an opportunity for Kodiak community members to celebrate cancer survivors, among other things.
“And it’s a chance for us to remember those that we have lost, and it’s a chance for us to fight back against the disease. A chance for us to raise funds, awareness, and things like that to help prevent anyone else from having to hear those words, ‘you have cancer.’”
Nugent said the relay is a lot like a carnival. Teams host booths and dress up in costumes to make the event fun and truly celebrate those who have survived or are continuing to fight against the disease.
She joined Event Chair Coordinator Kathie Morin on KMXT’s Talk of the Rock on Tuesday and talked about what folks can expect from this year’s event. Like most years, Morrin said there will be a midnight luminaria celebration to remember those who lost the battle to cancer.
“It’s a time where you can come at midnight and the luminarias are $5, and what it is is you have a bag and what we do is at midnight we honor and celebrate all of those who you would want to remember. We call off their names, and then we put a little light inside the bag and with it being dark it lights up the whole time. And then as soon as it’s all over with we have a whole lap of silence. Where we walk a whole lap in remembrance of that.”
Morin said this year’s goal is to raise $70,000 and all of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
“I believe the last time we looked we were between $25,000 and $30,000. Kind of went high I think with our goal this year, but that’s OK. A lot of people come out on that day and as any fundraiser, a lot of you fundraising is done the day of. All the teams have some kind of something going on at their tent. And even coming down and just going from tent to tent to see how they’ve been decorated, to see what kind of fundraiser they’re doing to see what kind of event is going on just in their own event there or coming and saying hi to your friends is a big thing .”
This year’s Relay for Life will Kick off at 6 p.m. tomorrow with an opening ceremony at Woody Way Field. That will be followed by a survivor lap and a medical providers lap after that. There are events and activities scheduled throughout the 24 hours, and you can keep updated by visiting the Kodiak Relay for Life Facebook page.
