The 2014 Becker Relay for Life® fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society will begin at 6 p.m. Fri., July 11 in the parking lot at the Becker Middle School, and will continue until 6 a.m. on Sat., July 12 when the overnight campsites are cleaned up after the 5:30 a.m. coffee and donut breakfast.
Relay® Schedule
The event begins with survivor registrations in the hospitality tent at 5 p.m., and the “Bucket Raffles” ($1 tickets sold at the event). The Opening Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m., with the Presentation of the Colors by the Honor Guard of Becker American Legion Post 193, followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Gabby Weber. The Invocation will then be delivered by Pastor Rob Olsen from Becker Baptist Church. Event organizers will then welcome attendees and spectators, followed by the introduction of corporate sponsors and the team introductions.
Introduction of the 2014 Honorary Survivors, Jim Henry and Bob Reginek, will take place at 6:15 p.m., followed by the Survivor and Caregiver Lap around the track. At that time, Brenda Peterson will also read aloud the names of those that have been lost to cancer.
From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. the event grounds will feature food booths, games, shopping opportunities and fun from Dean-O-Mite Entertainment®. The team lap count goes on, and the new “Favorite Holiday lap” takes place from 7-8 p.m., with teams wearing garb appropriate to their favorite holiday (Christmas, Easter, Shrove Tuesday, etc.).
The “Frozen T-Shirt” event begins at 8 p.m., with the first team with a member able to get inside the shirt and report to the DJ stand winning a prize. The bucket raffles ends at 9:45 p.m., with the winners announced at 10:30 p.m. (need not be present to win).
The lighting of the “Luminaira” will begin at 10 p.m. The white paper bags are decorated with names and sometimes photos of loved ones in the fight against cancer, and are arranged around the inner and outer perimeters of the walking track, later illuminated with a single candle inside.
The annual pizza party takes place at 11 p.m., with the “Fight Back Ceremony” set for midnight. The closing ceremony will take place at 1 a.m. Saturday, with the “poker hand” game for walkers going throughout the marathon night. The Luminarias are extinguished at 5 a.m.
Organizers/Team Captains
The 2014 Relay for Life Committee includes: Cory Whiting, co- and online chair; Carrie Olson, co-chair; Ann Sura, treasurer; Pat Throlson, survivor chair; Bev Gruber, activities chair, and Kate Steinbach, American Cancer Society representative. Committee members will roam the grounds during the event to answer questions and help with concerns. They are identifiable by their bright blue shirts.
The 2014 teams and captains are: Avengers For a Cure, Jessica Heinen and Emma Schreifels; Building Towards a Cure, Fran Seeley and Judy Haus; Circle of Friends, Donna Pozorski; Cutting Out Cancer, Laura Brown; Defenders, June Hubbard; Eye’s On a Cure, Tammy Weber; GEL’s Angels, Anita Lindbom; Hunters For a Cure, Carolyn Blomquist; Jim’s Angels, Cheryl Hadac; LC Crusaders, Heather Lofgren and Evionne Anderson; Papa’s Team, Shannon Fossan; The Kampers, Kayla Pederson, and Wild About a Cure, Nancy Weber and Renee Woodard.
The theme of the 2014 event is as follows: “Today we CELEBRATE those who have battled cancer, REMEMBER loves ones lost and FIGHT BACK against a disease that takes too much.”
