Relay offers hope

This Friday and Saturday is the Putnam County Relay for Life at the Ottawa-Glandorf football field.

If you've never attended a Relay for Life, I highly recommend it.  It is a swirl of ongoing activities including music, food, and games. Even if you don't have a team at the event it is a fun way to support the American Cancer Society.

The Relay will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday with the opening ceremony including a "survivor's lap."

This is the part that always amazes me. Senior citizens, young children, men, women, some walking, others in wheel chairs, form a large supportive group as they go around the track, celebrating that they are survivors of cancer.

Later in the evening, those attending recall and pay tribute to those who fought cancer and are now deceased with a luminary ceremony.

During each event, I think of the research the prior event helped support and the number of lives that have been saved by this research.

We have all been affected by cancer. Family members, friends, and co-workers are on our lists of those who found they had some form of cancer.

These are the people who are relying on you to attend an event such as the Putnam County Relay for Life and offer your support through your presence, prayers and funds.

The event will continue throughout the night and conclude on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m

The Putnam County Relay for Life offers everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer.

Other activities during the Relay for Life include a newlywed game, guitar hero tourney, frozen t-shirt context and Miss Relay Contest.

Does this sound like fun? Interested in providing your support? Then come out to the field on Friday evening or Saturday and have a good time.