One of the most important aspects of Relay for Life is honoring those who have survived their fight with cancer.

Greene County Relay for Life Survivor Chair Ann Frederick says they have several activities scheduled for the survivors during the main event on Saturday, April 26th.

There will be a reception for the survivors at the Greene County Community Center at 9:30am with a photo to be taken at 10am.  This year, weather permitting, Frederick states that they will have the traditional survivor’s walk outside from the rec center leading up to the start of the “Color Out Cancer 5K” race on Lincoln Way at 10:20am.  She points out that race participants will line the sidewalk and cheer on the survivors.

Frederick talks about why they wanted to make a change to this time honored traditional during Relay for Life.

“It makes people feel good.  Everybody wants to help somebody.  And when you see the survivors, it gives everyone hope and you get a reason to celebrate.  And we’re just so happy to have them start the walk, down the sidewalk, down to Doreen Wilbur and engage in the walk itself if they can and it’s very inspiring.”

If there’s bad weather, the survivor walk will take place inside the rec center.

Registration will begin at 9:30am and there will be a quilt given away to a survivor from a drawing.  Frederick comments that the quilt is made from past Relay for Life t-shirts and it was created by Karla Janning and Anne Butler.

Also new this year are the specifically designed t-shirts for the survivors to wear during Saturday’s event.

Frederick says there will also be free hats for people currently going through cancer treatments available during the day as well.  Each survivor will receive a free ticket for the barbecue meal that will be served starting at 11:30am.

She is looking forward to a wonderful event and invites everyone out to support cancer research and Relay for Life.  Click on the image below to see the quilt.