By the Apache staff
Relay For Life organizers are recruiting teams of 10 to 12 people interested in raising money for the American Cancer Society by walking, jogging, running or wheeling chairs around a track that will be set up on the IVCC campus.
During the 12-hour walkathon June 9 and 10, each team will be expected to have at least one person on the track at all times.
Dave Klepitsch, the American Cancer Society representative for LaSalle County, described the relay as a community-based event designed to celebrate cancer survivorship. Last year the event attracted over 700 participants on 56 teams and raised $94,000.
Klepitsch said the event will be held in the parking lots close to the gymnasium so that the restrooms and an emergency cooling station will be available for the anticipated crowd of 1,000 people.
The opening ceremony will be at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday with the first lap taken by the cancer survivors from LaSalle County. At dusk, a candle-light ceremony will include a reading of the names of people who died of cancer and those who are survivors.
"There will be something for everyone since the fun activities will include barbecues, bands, kid's games," Klepitsch said.
Closing ceremonies will be at about 8 a.m. Saturday.
Shari Stoudt, co-chairperson for the LaSalle County relay, said the event had been held in Ottawa for the past three years, but it was moved to IVCC "because IVCC belongs to everyone in the community."
For more information or to join a team, call 1-800-ACS-2345.