ACS hosts Relay For Life Saturday in region

MARION - Local participants will join together at the annual Relay For Life Festival of Hope, which includes Williamson, Franklin, Saline and Gallatin counties at The Pavilion of the City of Marion this Saturday, July 20 to help defeat cancer.

A pre-event survivor reception will start at 3:30 p.m. for local cancer survivors and their caregivers.

A survivor lap will happen at 5 p.m. during the Opening Ceremonies to start off the evening's festivities. It doesn't matter if you were diagnosed 10 days ago or 10 years ago, you can walk the survivor lap while everyone gathers together to cheer you on.

Relay For Life will be in full swing from 5-9 p.m. Check out a variety of booths and food stands from Relay For Life teams and sponsors, participate in activities and games, have some fun in the bounce house, grab a bagel from Winston's Bagels by B-Rad, sit and enjoy music from Johnathan Len, Towards Tomorrow, and so much more!

At 9 p.m., join us for the luminaria ceremony. During this ceremony we represent everyone touched by cancer with a luminaria. Each light represents a life - a life taken by cancer, a survivor of cancer, or a support for a person still fighting the disease. It's a powerful demonstration that gives people the opportunity to grieve but also offers comfort and hope.

The Relay For Life Festival of Hope is supported by many local businesses and organizations.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the only organization fighting cancer on every front. Funds raised from Relay For Life events allow the ACS to attack cancer in dozens of ways, each of them critical to achieving a world without cancer - from developing breakthrough therapies and innovative research, to building supportive communities that come together to help those affected by cancer with access to treatment.

The ACS provides empowering resources to deploying activists to raise awareness and develop game-changing approaches to address the cancer burden for all people.

Together, we can beat our biggest rival. Join or donate to the Relay For Life Festival of Hope. Visit Relayforlife.org/williamsonIL or find us on Facebook at Relay For Life of Williamson, Franklin, Saline, and Gallatin County (@WilliamsonIL).