By joining us on Friday night, you will help open the doors to endless opportunities. As 100 percent of the profits gained during Relay For Life goes to the programs and services of ACS, you are showing your support by buying some delicious baked goods at 2 am or getting your hair professionally cut and styled for only $5 from 7–10 pm. And if you have at least eight inches to donate, you can get a free haircut to help to make a free wig for a woman with cancer.

The opening ceremonies will begin at 6 pm and include two speakers: George Plopper, an RPI cancer researcher, and Margie Wood, a local survivor. The event is then led by the Survivors Lap. It is an amazing experience to see some of the people who have fought cancer and made it through. They are our reasons for Relaying. We hope that many more will join them one day to say they have beaten this disease. At 8:30 pm, we will dim the lights to hold the Luminaria Ceremony. This is a time to honor all those who have lived through cancer and remember those who have been taken away from us. Illuminated bags will line the track, honoring these people. The energy and fun will really pick up after this, making it easy to stay up all night. There will be musical performances from three local bands: Reason 837, Frankie Lassard, and Harbour Grace, as well as RPI’s own a cappella groups. Comedian Dylan Mandlsohn will join us at midnight to bring out the laughter in all of us. Other activities will include karaoke, a Dance Dance Revolution contest, Guitar Hero, themed laps, a scavenger hunt, and much, much more.

We hope to see everyone on the field this Friday for this amazing event. We have all been touched by cancer in one way or another. This is your opportunity to weaken cancer’s hold over our world. Even if you just stop by for just an hour, you will be making a difference. Relay For Life is nothing without you, the countless participants, volunteers, and donors. Join us as we Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back.