The annual Nobles County Relay For Life is set for this Friday, August 18, 5:00 p.m. to midnight, at the fairgrounds in Worthington.
This year, Tracy and Chris Remme of the Brewster area will be sharing their story of cancer, as their son Aiden has been battling a brain tumor for the past year and a half. Jeff Johnson of Worthington is also an honorary chair of the event this year.
Sami Jo Helmers-Nelson is heading the committee which is finalizing the plans for Friday evening’s events. “This year, we’re adding themed laps,” Helmers-Nelson said. These one hour increments will give the participants a chance to dress according to the theme and “make it more fun and interesting for everyone.”
The first of these laps, Sports, will begin at 5:00 p.m., as the Relay begins. At 6:00, a Disney themed lap will begin, with the opening ceremonies set for 6:30 p.m.
The survivor and caregiver lap will take place about 8:00 p.m., and that will be the start of the Holiday themed laps. A Superhero theme takes over at 9:00, which will also be the lighting of the luminaries.
Crazy Hats and Crazy Hair will be the theme for the laps beginning at 10:00 p.m. The 11:00 p.m. laps will featured glow sticks, necklaces and more for the Glow lap.
“My favorite part of the night will be at 11:45 p.m., when we have a glow balloon release,” Helmers-Nelson added. “Everyone will take a lap in silence, followed by a short prayer and time for reflection, and then we will release the glow in the dark balloons.” She indicated that Cottonwood and Martin Counties held glow balloon events this year.
Luminaries are for sale, for a suggested donation of $10 each. They can be purchased in honor of someone battling cancer, or in memory of someone who lost their battle. Luminaries will be available up until the lighting ceremony at dusk on August 18.
The Relay For Life teams will be having fundraising opportunities throughout the night at their campsites. Stop in to see what they have to offer. Planned are food items, desserts and jewelry. The goal of the Nobles County Relay For Life this year is to raise $38,000 for the American Cancer Society.
The closing ceremony will be held at 11:30 p.m., at which time the announcement of the funds raised will be made.
