Luminary Ceremony

The luminary ceremony takes place at dark. All of the names are read, both in Honor of and in Memory of. The bags are not placed on the track until shortly before the ceremony begins. At dusk, poems are read, special songs might be sung, or a cancer survivor gives an uplifting story. Shortly before all the stadium lights are turned off, candles are lit in each of the sand-filled bags. This past year, our event used the glow sticks which lasted longer. After all the names are read a moment of silence is taken for us to give thanks for all that has been done in cancer research and all that is soon to take place with eraditcating cancer from our lives. It is also a time of reflection to remember those whose names were read "In Memory of" and to be thankful for those who have survived this dreaded disease "In Honor of".

This past year, our hospital team also sold "Memories to Heaven", where you could purchase a blank note for $1.00, write your own note to your loved ones in heaven, place it in a balloon, and we would fill it with helium. At the end of our luminary ceremony, the balloons were released to be lifted to heaven with all our notes. We held spotlights on the balloons as they drifted upward. Since there was no wind that night, our balloons went straight upward. It was a beautiful sight as we held the spotlights on the balloons until we could no longer see them.

Please donate to this cause by sending a check in an amount you can afford made out to the American Cancer Society.

Send your check to:

Connie Mattingly

278 S Delaware

Mt. Gilead, OH 43338

If you wish to purchase a luminary

send $10.00 in the form of a check as above. On the memo area, write luminary.

You need to include

In memory of or

In Honor of

and the name of the person.

If you wish, I would be glad to send you a picture of your luminary at the event's ceremony. Please let me know.

Relay For Life beginnings

If you've never been to a Relay for Life event, I encourage you to find one in your area. Start a team, join a team, or go for the fun and activities that will be there. It is a touching event with tears of rememberance to those friends and family members we have lost to cancer, it is a time of joy for those of us who have survived the disease and it is a time of fundraising to find a cure.
Relay For Life is a unique event that allows participants from all walks of life to join together to fight cancer. Relay For Life reminds people that progress has been made in the fight against cancer and that everyone who participates is making a difference. Participating cancer survivors are given special sashes to wear as they lead a special Victory Lap around the track in honor of their triumph over cancer. The Victory Lap is one of the most moving experiences of my life. Each year I'm overwhelmed by the crowds of people who surround the track cheering on survivors like myself. It reminds me that I'm not alone in my fight against cancer. As participants make new friends and spend time with old ones, the relay celebration and camp-out begins. Team members come together to celebrate, barbecue, play games and walk the track for a worthy cause.

Highlighting the evening is the Luminaria Ceremony, held after dark to honor cancer survivors and to remember those who have lost the battle against cancer. Hundreds of luminaria (bags filled with sand and a lit candle) line the track and are left burning throughout the night to remind participants of the importance of their contributions.

Relay for Life is a fun, family-oriented event. All proceeds raised during Relay for Life will help the American Cancer Society provide educational and patient services, as well as help fund cancer research.

Last year, I walked a total of 14 1/2 miles from 6:00 PM on Friday through Saturday morning at 10:00 AM. This year my goal is 16 miles. I raised almost $500.00 for our team and we received a Platitum award. We were only $300.00 away from receiving the Gold award, which we had won the previous 4 years.

This year my goal is $750.00 and I am asking for your help. Please send whatever you feel you are able to afford in the form of a check made out to the American Cancer Society. This ensures that the American Cancer Society will send you a receipt that can be used for a charitable donation on next year's taxes. In the meantime, the money will be put to good use for research projects for a cancer cure.

Checks should be mailed to:
Connie Mattingly
278 S Delaware
Mt. Gilead, Oh 43338