A Relay for the kids
Published 10:14 pm Monday, May 16, 2016
As you’re preparing yourself and your family for the big weekend ahead — it’s not too soon to wish for Friday, is it? — consider setting aside some time for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
The event will be held from 6 p.m. Friday until about dawn the following morning at Nansemond River High School.
This year’s event is especially geared toward families, with a theme drawn from Dr. Seuss: “Cancer: Not Here. Not There. Not Anywhere.”
There will be plenty of activities for the little ones in your home. From the Teeny Tiny Farm’s petting zoo to the “purple glove” group Zumba dance that will be recorded to live entertainment from three different bands, there will be lots of chances to keep the kids active and awake.
Children will also be able to enjoy Dr. Seuss movies on the big screen, and they’re sure to get a kick out of the “Aladdin”-themed lap by the Nansemond River High School theater troupe. And kids of all ages are sure to light up during the midnight “pajama jam.”
Of course, this annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society is known for its emotional luminaria ceremony, which remembers those who have died from cancer, honors those who are still fighting the disease and celebrates those who have beaten it. That ceremony is set for 10 p.m.
Throughout the night, various teams on hand for the event will be offering games, contests and fundraisers in tents throughout the venue, and there will be food vendors and informational kiosks, as well.
The event is free to attend, but the cancer society is still looking for teams to participate in the fundraising. There is a goal of 100 teams’ participation. So far, 71 teams with 572 participants have signed up.
To learn more about Suffolk’s Relay for Life, visit www.relayforlife.org/suffolkva.