HAMLET — If you question attendees of past Relay For Life events about their favorite part of the night, you will likely hear about one of the quietest times.
Not that the thousands of attendees don’t appreciate the local groups that are performing or enjoy the sizzle of the fried goodies from the teams’ campsite, but one of the most special moments of the evening is the Luminary Lap.
After dark has fallen over the Cole Auditorium parking lot on May 5 — but long before the midnight ending time — the generators will quiet, campsite sales will pause, conversations will silence and many heads will bow in silence as members of the teams circle the track in near darkness. Small white bags and purple bags that surround the track will become the focal point and nearly the only source of light.
A closer look at these simple bags reveal something special. Messages like “In memory of my father” or “In honor of a special friend” adorn these bags, each one a small symbol of at least two people impacted by cancer.
The typical white “in memory” on “in honor” bags will again be joined with a colored bag.
“We are excited to add purple bags to the track for a special reason,” regional American Cancer Society staff member Cameron Whitley said. “The purple bags can be purchased in recognition and appreciation of caregivers of cancer patients.”
Local committee chairperson Jamie Brooks added, “Many cancer patients or families impacted by cancer will often times have a special caregiver that stood by their side,” added Jamie Brooks, local committee chairperson. “These bags give the family or cancer patient/survivor a way to say ‘thanks.’ For only the second year, there is a tangible way to celebrate the caregivers, we are happy to have a way to include them in the Relay event.”
There are several ways that luminaries can be purchased to be included in the Relay ceremony.
Many locals teams have forms available but the forms can also be found on the Richmond County Relay for Life Facebook page and the Relay for Life website at www.relayforlife.org/richmondnc, as well as at the event.
Luminaries are $10 each or 3 for $25.
More information about the May 5 event, local fundraisers, and ways to get involved to provide funds to aid the American Cancer Society can be obtained from Cameron Whitley at 910-334-0207.