Quaker Valley Relay for Life Set for Saturday

Organizers of the annual Quaker Valley Relay for Life hope to see many people coming together Saturday for one mission to defeat cancer.

The event begins with a kick off lap at noon Saturday, June 1 in Quaker Valley High School's Chuck Knox Stadium. The 20-hour event runs throughout the night until 8 a.m. Sunday morning.

This year’s Relay for Life is dedicated to Dawn Patterson, who died in April after battling a rare form of cancer. 

Barbara Cooley Thaw, chairwoman, said the public is encouraged to join in the activities, which include a survivor's lap, fireworks and live music.

“We have some good things planned. I just hope people come,” Cooley Thaw said.

Touch a Truck, new this year, begins at 2 p.m. with a suggested donation of $2.  Ice cream will be given out courtesy of Sewickley Confectionery. There will also be Bingo with prizes in the survivor's tent, Hamster Balls, a dunk tank, crafts with the Girl Scouts, face painting, a bounce house, and a frozen T-shirt contest.

Donations will be accepted with money raised going to cancer research, transportation costs for treatment and other basics such as wigs. 

Luminaria bags -- dedicated to loved ones lost or battling cancer -- will be lit Saturday night. The bags are for sale and will be available to purchase at the event. About 330 have sold but the goal is to reach 500.  

Eleven teams and 67 participants are currently registered, but Cooley Thaw said it's not too late to participate, even if that means one lap around the track. 

“They can sign up for another team or they can just come down and walk, you don’t need to be part of a team,” she said.
 
Cooley Thaw said Relay for Life is a good example of how a community can work together to celebrate, remember and fight back. She said the committee is grateful to Quaker Valley for again allowing the use of the district's facilities and equipment.

“We are always very thankful for the Quaker Valley School District and their support for all of the things we need.”

Click here for more information on the Quaker Valley Relay for Life. 

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