From left to right: Taye Unongo, Ryan Spieker, Kamryn Plock, and Quincey Johnson host a Ribbon Rendezvous to raise awareness about Relay for Life, where those in atten- dance could make ribbon pins, design a team baton, or dedicate a Luminaria.
Relay for Life is less than two weeks away and all across the Doane and Crete communities, preparations are being made to make this event the best it can be.
The Relay for Life team has been working hard all year to plan and prepare for the big day.
Relay for Life is held April 5 from 6 p.m. to midnight in Fuhrer Fieldhouse. The goal of this event is to raise $35,000 to the American Cancer Society.
The event celebrates cancer survivors and caregivers, honors those going through cancer and remembers those lost to cancer while also raising money to fight cancer. There will be booths hosted by various Crete and Doane organizations selling products, making food and offering activities.
In addition to the different booths, members of each Relay team will be walking the track the entire night, survivors and caregivers will give speeches and those lost to cancer are honored with a Luminaria.
“I am most looking forward to seeing everyone raise money with their fundraising booths and enjoy hearing from the survivors and caregivers,” senior and Relay for Life Head Chair Payton Detavernier said.
Prior to the event, campus and community groups and organizations create teams. Those who are attending Relay for Life are invited to join a team for $15.
This past week from March 17 to March 23 signing up for a team was half priced.
Detavernier said that half-priced sign ups went really well. There are currently 255 participants and 30 teams, meeting the goal of having 30 teams.
However, about $13,000 of the $35,000 goal is met which means the work is not done.
There is still fundraising and planning to be done. March 21 featured a Ribbon Rendezvous where those in attendance could make ribbon pins, design a baton for their team for the walk and make Luminarias.
The Logistics, Entertainment and Activities Chair and senior Blair Souchek have been working to finalize the schedule for the night and plan for the games that will be held.
The Marketing and Social Media Committee Chair and senior Kamryn Plock is working on getting more members of Saline County involved, specifically the Crete Public Schools.
“While Doane has a great impact already, I think that the Saline County community makes a bigger impact on Relay because it brings all of us together for 1 singular cause,” Plock said.
Students can still sign up for a Relay team at bit.ly/doanerelay and can follow @doanerelay on Instagram for more information.