Fundraiser at fairgrounds Friday
SUZY HULFACHOR
suzy@pdclarion.com
PRINCETON — The 16th annual Gibson County Relay for Life opens Friday, June 8 at 6 p.m. at the Gibson County Fairgrounds, offering a variety of new events.
New at this year’s American Cancer Society fundraiser are a “Gibson County American Idol” contest, county-wide bachelor and bachelorette contests and special theme relay hours.
Opening ceremonies begin with local cheerleaders and students presenting a “flash mob” in fairgrounds pavilion building.
Coordinators Alan Douglas and Toni Kohlmeyer will welcome the crowd after the performance, prior to the opening prayer given by Bethel Memorial Church Pastor Kevin Wilson.
Cancer survivors and caregivers will be honored, and teams will be introduced following the presentation of the American Flag by American Legion color guards.
The Gibson County American Idol competition starts at 7 p.m. Participates include Maria Bassett, Arionna Collins, Chelsea Elliott, David Glover, Missy
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Gottman, Rebecca Hauser, Dorothy Jaquemai, Aly Lasley, Bill McCray, Kelsi Miller, Cassie Reeves, Emma Satore, Drake Stein, Trey Thome, Henry Wilhite, Juliet Wilhite, Sophia Wilhite, Marquita Wright and Billy Zehner.
The public can attend and “vote” by making monetary donation on behalf of their favorite contestant. During the Idol contest, Relay for Life participants are encouraged to walk laps around the track dressing and acting like their favorite singer.
The bachelor and bachelorette contests begin at 8 p.m. Bachelor contestants are Josh Adams, Lance Adkins, Brayden Burger, Brayton Carey, Josh Dyer, Blaize Fox, Brandt George, Nefty Padilla, Matt Pflug, Lamont Shemwell, Drake Stein, Trey Thome and Ethan Wright.
Bachelorette contestants include; Leia Barrett, Kennedy Christy, Hannah Cummins, Hannah Fears, Bella Fox, Bailee Frederick, Dakota Hack, Talli Hulfachor, Jaylie Johnson, Kali Koch, Mya Lloyd, Kristin Miller, Dakota Morris, Jackie Osborne, Ashlyn Packer, Morgan Reneer, Kassie Speedy, Tia Taylor, Anna Willis, Emily Wonnell and Sophie Wright.
The Relay for Life Bachelor and Bachelorette winners will be chosen by monetary “vote” donations benefiting ACS.
The annual luminaria ceremony will begin at 9 p.m. The public is invited to attend and purchase a candle to light in honor or memory of a cancer victim family member or friend.
Candles can be lit and making a donation of any monetary amount until 8 p.m. at the registration table inside the pavillion.
Team members will take turns walking around the track during the 12-hour relay-style event. There will be various themes every hour to help make relay laps more entertaining. Themes are listed in the schedule shown below.
Julie McRoberts, entertainment coordinator, says other features include games, prize drawings, silent auctions, corn hole tournaments, massages, kissing booths, dart tournaments, photo booths, T-shirt sales, inflatables and concessions.
Relay for Life teams raise money months in advance of the event. “The thought behind the relay is to allow family and friends to express their compassion and take turns walking as a symbol of joining efforts toward the achievement of one goal, to win the fight against cancer,” said McRoberts. The community is invited to attend and participate in the fundraising event.