Update from Relay for Life

Relay for Life of Washington County just can’t get a break. The annual Relay for Life fundraiser was cancelled earlier this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the limits on the number of people allowed to gather, as set forth by Indiana’s Governor Eric Holcomb.

So organizers spent a lot of hours brainstorming about what they could do to have a Relay for Life, as Washington County always supports this endeavor in a big way. 

One thing that is done at every Relay event is the luminaria ceremony. Bags are purchased beforehand and decorated to honor someone who is fighting cancer or in memory of someone who lost their battle with cancer. It is done at dark when all the luminaria bags are lit up in a remembrance of a life touched by cancer and the names on each bag is read over the loud speaker. It’s a very emotional tribute, but it is also a time of reflection and hope for those in attendance.

“We have to become creative,” said organizer Stacey Gilbert. “Things seem to be changing day to day, minute to minute. We have to be everchanging and more creative so that we can continue the fight against cancer.”

So it was decided to have a drive through luminaria ceremony. People were invited to buy bags in advance of the event and they would be illuminated for anyone who wanted to drive through and reflect on the names of those affected by cancer. This event, titled, “Starry Night,” was supposed to be this past Saturday at the YMCA parking lot, but again COVID has reared its ugly head with the numbers of cases in Indiana spiking daily and it was canceled.

Organizers were disappointed, but felt that cancelling was a neccessary step. They are hoping that next spring, a sense of normalcy will return and they will, once again, be able to host a Relay for Life event.

If you would like to donate to the Relay for Life of Washington County, go to the website: relayforlife.org/washingtoncountyin.

 

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