Relay for Life kicks off Saturday
‘Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back’ is theme for 2008 event

 The 2008 American Cancer Society Relay for Life will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Field and continue throughout the night.
 The theme is “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back.” In the past four years the Rockdale Relay for Life has raised over $250,000 for cancer research and information.
 “Relay for Life is an all-night event to represent a day in a cancer survivor’s life,” Terry Blackmon, event chairperson, said.
 “Dusk and evening hours represent the diagnosis of cancer,” she said. “As we relay through the night, we become just as tired as the patient does in their battle against this disease.”
 “Then dawn breaks, representing the patient going into remission and survival,” Blackmon said.
 Blackmon said 22 teams will participate.

Survivors lap
 Opening ceremonies get under way at 6 p.m. with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6525, and auxiliary, presenting flags.
 Mayor John Shoemake will issue a proclamation, followed by a ribbon cutting with a cancer survivors’ lap at 6:30 p.m. and an all-teams lap at 6:45.
 The luminaria ceremony, a candlelight remembrance service, is from 9 to 10 p.m.
 Other activities: Silent auction, 7 p.m. to midnight; live auction, 10 to 10:30 p.m.; “Mr. Relay” contest, 10:30 to 11 p.m.; “Bribe the Judge,” 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.
 A Fight Back ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 to 3 a.m. Sunday and Greg Spears of the Milam County Cowboy Church will officiate at a church service from 5 to 5:30 a.m.
 Awards and closing ceremonies will be held from 5:30 to 6 a.m., Blackmon said.
 The Relay bank opens at 5 p.m. and closes at 2 a.m. Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the night.

Luminarias
 Blackmon said luminarias and commemorative angels will be on sale at Tiger Field beginning at 12-noon. “Luminarias line the inside of the track and angels line the outside,” she said.
 Contact Blackmon at (512)-760-0280, or any Relay for Life team member, to purchase the items.
Live auction
 Blackmon said live auction items include:
 • University of Texas Longhorn photo autographed by head coach Mack Brown.
 • Autographed 2008 Big XII Champion Lady Aggies softball helmet.
 • Date with Dr . Jason Nurnburg.
 Also, a barbecue pit, burgundy-and-green homemade quilt, country-style hutch, recliner, children’s wooden picnic table and a “rocking wooden Harley Davidson.”
 Food and games will be available throughout the event.

mike@rockdalereporter.com

 For more subscribe to ReporterEZ>>