There is room for one more team at the Relay For Life of North Shore, said Patti Ornellas, the American Cancer Society senior community development manager for the West region. “Our goal was 24 teams, and we have 23,” she
There is room for one more team at the Relay For Life of North Shore, said Patti Ornellas, the American Cancer Society senior community development manager for the West region.
“Our goal was 24 teams, and we have 23,” she said. “We’re also looking at raising $34,000.”
The Relay for Life of North Shore will unfold Saturday at the Waioli Park from 3 to 11 p.m. with a full schedule of family and fun events.
“This is the first time ever for Kauai that a relay will not run overnight,” Ornellas said. “There are many other locations where the relay has been cut to several hours instead of overnight as people adjust to busy lifestyles. It has not happened on Kauai until now.”
Dana Santos, a North Shore cancer survivor, is in charge of the “experience,” and has a schedule of games and activities for families during the early hours of the relay.
“Penny Vess is bringing a team, and also the Fun N Kwazy Rides, including the Shoot N Shower which debuted at the Koloa Plantation Days park celebration,” Ornellas said. “The North Shore people always wondered why the county did not participate in their relay, so this year Scott Suga is bringing a county team to Hanalei. We also have Cub Scout Pack 148 sponsored by the Lihue Christian Church celebrating the two boys from the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School.”
People, in addition to celebrating cancer survivors, their caregivers, and remembering those who lost their fight against cancer, can walk around the relay oval ahead of time, although the formal walking starts at 6 p.m. with the emotional survivors’ walk.
Caregivers follow, then teams and anyone else wanting to become part of the relay.
A survivors’ reception is held at 5 p.m., and Ornellas wants to remind those planning to attend to call the ACS office at 246-0695 to RSVP.
The highlight of the evening is the luminaria ceremony, where hundreds of luminaria representing people fighting cancer are lit as the last rays of the sun sink below the North Shore mountains.
Luminaria are available for a $5 donation up until the relay from any team member participating in the relay, or from the ACS office in the old Immaculate Conception School site in Lihue. At the relay, luminaria will be available for a $10 donation.
Entertainment will feature two Na Hoku award winners — Stuart Hollinger and his band, and Kupaoa.
“Please, please, we want people to come, eat, support the survivors, and have fun,” she said.
