Relay for Life 2016 will be Friday, April 8, to Saturday, April 9.
Grab those sleeping bags — and that checkbook. One of the biggest charity events in Plant City is happening this month.
The two-day Relay for Life 2016 will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, April 8, and continue nonstop through 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 9.
This year’s event lead, Joanie Petty, has been brainstorming ideas since the summer with close friend and former event lead, Linda Herman. The women, who both teach special needs pre-school at Knights Elementary, are on their school’s team and the Plant City Relay for Life committee.
This year, the committee has a goal of raising $250,000 dollars total from all 55 teams. Though fundraising doesn’t end until July, the committee has already raised $82,000 dollars.
The women also are hoping that Plant City’s Relay for Life will make it in the top 10 teams nationwide again this year. Last year, Plant City placed fifth. The Plant City Relay for Life is the largest in both Hillsborough and Polk counties.
This year, most of the activities at the upcoming event were planned by Danielle Jones and Tina Buoni, who have both worked at Knights Elementary in the past. Herman and Petty believe that Plant City schools are a large part of why the community’s Relay for Life is so successful.
“It’s a small community, but yet it’s not,” Petty said. “We have enough people to support this event.”
“We’re excited, very excited,” Herman added. “It’ll be really fun. We’ll both be out there the whole time.”
FANTASTIC FRIDAY
Though opening ceremonies for Relay for Life 2016 won’t officially kick off until 6 p.m., teams are encouraged to come as early as noon to set up their tents.
“Team captains will begin set up at noon,” Herman said. “There will be a tent contest for best theme.”
After the opening ceremonies that evening, attendees, survivors and team members will be able to enjoy a performance by Next Radical Generation at 7:30 p.m.
The music will take a brief break later that evening for the annual Road to Recovery Race, where cancer patients and drivers or caregivers use cardboard cars to run around the track. The race is followed by the luminaria service.
“I like the luminaria,” Herman said. “We have a slideshow of all the people who have passed on. My mom is in that. That’s a somber time. It’s very emotional for a lot of people.”
The music will pick up again at 9:30 p.m. with DJ Jake’s Dance Party. DJ Jake is Jake Dela Cruz, who has donated his services. He lost his grandmother to cancer.
The Mr. Relay Pageant is another major event of the night.
“I like all the activities, especially the Mr. Relay pageant,” Petty said. “It’s a drag contest. Men dress up and dance.”
Throughout Friday and Saturday, there also will be themed laps pertaining to holidays and national days, including a Halloween mask lap, a bunny hop lap, a Fourth of July lap and an ugly Christmas sweater lap.
SUPER SATURDAY
Saturday morning will kick off with laps beginning at midnight and continuing through 10 a.m. Holiday-themed activities also will be taking place, including holiday charades.
The annual 5K will start at 8 a.m., followed by the remaining two holiday-themed laps.
Relay for Life 2016 will end just before noon with a performance by a group chorus, made up of Area 6 schools.
“It’s all Plant City schools,” Petty said. “They fill the section of the whole football bleachers, and they collect a big jug of change and present it to Relay.”
A final victory lap will end the event.
“Our Relay committee works together so well,” Herman said. “No matter whose job it is, everyone helps.”
Whether or not Plant City residents are on a team, they are encouraged to come to the event. All funds donated and raised at Relay for Life will go to the American Cancer Society.
“They have a passion for the whole Relay for Life movement,” Herman said. “There are so many fabulous programs that are free to patients and caregivers. The money is well spent.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
