A storm in the heart of where the event is annually held won’t stop Relay For Life next week, its organizer said.
“At this point it’s a go ahead,” Gayle Garrett said today of the event which begins April 29 at noon at the Manning track. “They’re cleaning the track up and building up the fence at the track. I’ve talked with the mayor and he seems to think we should have every thing in place.”
The one thing that may not be ready for the event is the lighting but pledges have been to made to provide that should they not be ready for the 24-hour fundraiser for cancer research, which ends the following Saturday at noon.
Twenty-six relay teams have signed up thus far, Garrett said. “We’ll be taking teams as they show up. They just need to register at the track.”
Relay is a year round event which culminates at the track. Teams have conducted fundraisers during that time and the event at the track is a way to recognize cancer survivors and remember those who lost the battle. “The big event is the relay.”
While it starts at noon, the opening ceremony starts at 6 p.m., followed by a survivor’s lap around the track. At 9 p.m. there is luminary ceremony. A children’s walk will be held the following day at 10 a.m.
Garrett believes it is important to have the event. The storm, she said, “It’s just a little bump in the road. Cancer survivors have been through a lot worse.”
Two storage sheds and the fencing at the track were destroyed by Saturday’s tornadoes. Manning is in the Park Avenue and Tenth Street area where some of the worst damage occurred.
Mayor Emery Doughtie said the Relay should be held. “I feel like we have to make every effort to have this as a way for the community to come together. It’s a really great time for the people to come together.”
Doughtie said he made phone calls to see if it would be possible to hold the event and what would be needed for it to happen. “They’re working on the track area and cleaning the sheds. I don’t see any reason for it not to happen.”
For more information on Relay contact Garrett at 252-535-1986.
