Welcome to the Relay For Life Community! We Celebrate our Survivors, Remember those we have lost, and Fight Back as a community to end cancer. As a Relayer, we want to share some details to make your first Relay experience the best possible.Â
Signature Elements
Celebrate – Cancer Survivors
We kick off our Relay by celebrating our local cancer survivors. We encourage you to invite friends and family currently living with cancer or survivors to attend and join in the celebration.
All attendees of the event are asked to line the track during the opening survivor lap and cheer on our survivors.
Pro tip: Bring noise makers, pom-poms, anything you bring to a pep rally to cheer those survivors on!
Celebrate – Caregivers
After the Survivor Lap, caregivers are invited to join the survivors. A caregiver is a friend or family member that helped a person with cancer, regardless if they are still with us. It may even be a healthcare worker.
Attendees are again asked to line the track and cheer for our caregivers!
In addition, we will be creating a pinwheel Caregiver Garden. Please stop to add a pinwheel for your favorite Caregiver!
Remember – Luminaria Ceremony
We will take time to remember those we have lost to cancer and reflect on the journey of those who have survived.
As the sun sets, Relay teams help light pre-made luminaria bags that are dedicated in honor or in memory of a loved one.
If you would like to make a donation or fundraising with luminaria – you can do so here.
Luminaria Ceremony begins at 9:30 PM, and we have a beautifully touching ceremony that you won’t want to miss!
Fight Back
We come together as a community to fight back against cancer. Invite your family and friends to attend the event and support you and your fellow Relayers fundraising efforts.
Commit to finding ways to fight back against cancer.
Event Check listÂ
Event Items
- Donations to be turned in at Registration
- Waivers and Chaperone Agreements for Youth (Turn in at Registration)
- Basket Alley items and FORMS (turn in at pavilion)
Personal Items
- Appropriate clothing (dress for the weather…layer for warmth)
- Rain gear
- Comfortable shoes
- Extra socks
- Sweatshirt/jacket
- Blankets
- Flashlight
- Cell phone & charger
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat/visor
- Wet-wipes and Sanitizer
Camp Site Items
- Easy-Up Tent with stakes and/or weights
- Tables and chairs
- Supplies for on-site fundraisers (including change)
- Team Banner
- Campsite decorations – Relay Like a Rock Star
- Tent (to change clothes in and for children to sleep)
- Lanterns/flashlights
- Trash receptacle (we will supply each team with a trash bag)
- ACS Fundraising App Downloaded
- Portable Cell Phone Chargers
- Onsite Fundraising (optional) – Click here for ideas
- Check the Event Schedule for what to wear for each lap!
- Money for team fundraisers (cash and small bills are best, but we can take CC with the app)
Things to Do to be Ready:
- Download the ACS Fundraising App on your mobile device to take credit card donations!
- Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram
What Not to Bring
- Tobacco & Alcohol (including e-cigarettes)
- Pets (Only Service Animals are allowed at Relay)
Campsite Selection & Setup
At the Relay For Life event, teams are welcome to setup a space to fundraise & hang out. Most teams bring tents, chairs, etc. Details on campsite selection and logistics are below.
- Details on how campsite location is determined coming soon
- Campsite map coming soon
- Coming soon:
- Details on when you can start setup of campsite
- Details on when campsites must be taken down and cleaned up.
- Any restrictions for campsites and any safety equipment required.
- Schedule of EventsÂ
12:30 p.m. Campsite set-up begins and on-site registration opens
2:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies Survivor speaker: Tina Fraley
2:30 p.m. Survivor Lap, Caregiver Lap, and Sponsors Lap
3:00 p.m. First-Timer Lap
3:30 p.m. Every Step Counts Lap — all participants invited to the celebration of being together as a community!
4:00 p.m. Rhythm Sticks Basket Raffles begin under the Pavilion
4:30 p.m. MEGA Musical Chairs
Get Social Lap — Post on your social sites why you relay, encourage your friends to donate or encourage them to come down for the luminaria ceremony later! Not on social media? Help someone snap the perfect pic for their post!
5:00 p.m. PLINKO Rockstars through the Decades Lap
5:30 p.m. Road to Recovery Lap/Cardboard Car Parade — Prizes will be awarded to the best car! Individuals or teams can build their car on-site or bring it with them. But remember, no running — the patient needs to have a safe ride.
6:00 p.m.Team Banner Lap
Food sales open. Stop by Harold & Shirley’s Team and Doris’s Darlings to get your dinner meal deal!
6:30 p.m. Rockstars through the Decades Lap – 1980s
7:00 p.m. Basket Raffles Close Purple Power Lap
7:30 p.m. BINGO — held at the Pavilion
8:00 p.m. Lollipop Lap
8:30 p.m. Red, White and Blue Lap
8:45 p.m. Rockstars through the Decades Lap – 1990s
9:00 p.m. Luminaria preparation — Be sure to set up your luminarias to prepare for the ceremony.
9:15 p.m. Caregiver Ceremony
9:30 p.m. Luminaria Ceremony Silent Lap after ceremony
10:00 p.m. Memorial Lap
10:15 p.m. Light Up the Night Lap
10:30 p.m. Victory Lap — Celebration of all participants and our hard work in the fight against cancer!
11:00 p.m. Closing Ceremonies Relay through the Decades Lap 2000s
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a run?
No, Relay For Life is a community based walk event. While your event may have opportunities to run the track, we encourage teams to take turns walking the track.
What do I need to bring with me to the walk? Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes. Please bring any donations you have to turn in. Strollers, wagons, walkers and wheelchairs are all welcome on the walk. Don’t forget to wear your Relay Purple!
Where do I park? Is there a parking fee? Is there handicap parking available? The YMCA has ample parking, so just find an empty space and head to the track! The most convenient parking is located to the left of the building. Handicapped spaces are also available there.
Do I need to register or check-in when I get there? We ask that everyone stops and checks in as we cannot wait to meet you all! Â
Are animals permitted? Only properly documented service dogs are allowed at the event.
I have money to turn in, where do I take it? Checks can be turned in at the Registration table or deposited via our mobile app. Download the app to deposit checks here.
Before and after the event, money can be mailed to:
American Cancer Society
SK# ALVNJT
405 Williams Court, #120
Baltimore, MD 21220
All money day of the walk can be turned in at the registration tables. Please have it in a sealed envelope. Envelopes will be available for pick up at registration if you need one to fill out.
Do I receive a t-shirt for my registration?
T-shirts are available to Hope Club members, who raise a minimum of $100. Hope Club members will receive an email with a link to order their Hope Club T-Shirt within 2 weeks of qualifying.
Do I receive a t-shirt if I am a Cancer Survivor?
Yes! Cancer Survivors that register online will receive an email with a link to redeem their survivor t-shirt to be shipped directly to them. There is no fundraising requirement for Survivor Shirts.
Are there fundraising incentives?
Yes, Hope Club members receive a T-shirt. We also have fundraising clubs, with gifts, for Grand Club Members at $1,000 raised and for All Stars at $2,500 raised.
Fundraisers also receive 1 Relay Reward point for every dollar raised. You can track your points and redeem rewards (starting at 250 points) by visiting shoprelayrewards.org.
Are there other ways to earn Relay Rewards?
Fundraising best practices – earn up to 50 bonus points by taking the following actions:
Making a personal donation to your page = 10 points
Sending an email(s) through your dashboard = 15 points
Downloading and accepting a donation through the ACS Fundraising App = 25 points
I would like some Relay For Life merchandise, how do I purchase it? Relay For Life merchandise is available for sale on our online store. You can scroll all the way to the bottom of this page for the link or visit acseventstore.org.
Will there be food available?
Harold & Shirley’s Team and Doris’ Darlings will be selling food and drinks beginning at 6:00pm. Choices will include hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches and will be offering a “meal deal.”
Where do volunteers that are helping with the event check in? More details coming soon.
What do you have on-site for cancer survivors?
We ask Survivors to please visit the Survivor Tent to receive your goodie bag! We also invite you to join in the opening Survivor Lap as part of the Opening Ceremonies.
Event Contact
Karen Wolcott
410.547.2142 or view Online Help
Mailing Address:
American Cancer Society
ATTN: Relay For Life of Washington County – ALVNJT
PO Box 18090
Middle River, MD 21220
Hagerstown, MD 21742