Mackinac County's 24-hour Relay for Life Begins July 27

Mackinac County's Relay for Life 24-hour fundraiser at the track of LaSalle High School in St. Ignace will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, July 27, and will continue until Saturday, July 28, until 1 p.m. Games and other activities will entertain those walking laps to raise funds for cancer research, and their supporters. Everyone is welcome.

At dusk Friday, around 10 p.m., a luminaria ceremony will be held. Candles will be lit to line the track, symbolizing the light of hope for patients, and providing light for the walkers during the night.

Donations of $10 are sought for the luminarias, which can be dedicated to honor or memorialize a friend or loved one. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

Storytelling, a silent auction, water balloon toss, frozen T-shirt contest, scavenger hunt, worst hair contest, and a duct tape costume contest will take place during this year's Relay for Life.

At 5 p.m. Friday, a "miss-ter" relay will be held, which calls for men to don women's clothing and collect donations in purses. The participants will be judged on personality.

Clowns from the St. Ignace Fire Department will be on hand to entertain the children and volunteers.

People interested in supporting Relay for Life can attend the event, make donations, or join a walking team. Forming a team is not required. Team members take turns walking laps around the track during the relay.

Residents are invited to join the events or start a team themselves. Anyone getting $100 in donations receives a T-shirt. A donation of $150 sponsors a team. Teams average 10 to 15 people.

Call Tammy Massaway at 643-8164 or the Upper Peninsula's American Cancer Society at (800) 469-0149 for more information about participating in Relay for Life.