Head out to Relay tonight

Published 9:49 pm Thursday, May 15, 2014

Soul stepping, Zumba, music, a cornhole tournament, Simon Says and — my personal favorite — a scavenger hunt.

They don’t seem to have a lot to do with one another, but they have one thing in common this week — they’re all on the schedule for tonight’s Relay For Life.

A fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, Relay is an all-night event that will take place at Bennett’s Creek Park beginning at 6 p.m. and lasting until 6 Saturday morning.

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It has its somber moments, including the survivors’ lap and luminaria ceremony. But ultimately, Relay is a celebration — of those who have survived cancer, of the well-lived lives of those who died of cancer and of the many positive steps that have been taken toward a cure.

Relay teams have been fundraising for several months, and tonight is the culmination of their efforts. They will spend all night long taking turns walking around the track at the park and, in some cases, continuing to fundraise, so it’s also a celebration of their success.

With all the celebrating going on, it will be hard to go without having a little fun.

After the opening ceremony, the Survivors’ Lap and Caregivers’ Lap will be the focal points. At 6:30 p.m., the first entertainment — Soul Steppers — takes the stage.

At 7 p.m., Avery Pino will give a Zumba demonstration, with a karate demonstration taking place from 7:30 to 8.

The Western Branch 2, two students from Western Branch High School who play guitar, will take the stage from 8 to 9.

At 9, the luminaria ceremony — the emotional time of remembrance of those who have lost their battle to cancer and in honor of those who have fought cancer — will take place.

The entertainment begins again at 9:30, when men dressed as women will hit the track for the Miss Relay Pageant. From 10 to 11, Relay’s Got Talent — a talent show featuring local musicians and vocalists — will keep folks entertained.

Disc jockey Jeremy Branch will cue the music at 11 p.m. and play until 1 a.m. From 10 to midnight, themed laps will include crazy hats, backwards laps, costume laps and pajama laps.

Folks can participate in a cornhole tournament from 1 to 2 a.m. From 2 to 3, games such as charades, Simon Says and a lip-sync contest will be held.

From 3 to 4, a scavenger hunt will take place. The final lap for participants is at 5:45 a.m., with closing ceremonies at 6.

For more information on Relay, visit www.relayforlife.org/suffolkva.