COVID-19 News: Redwood County Relay for Life to host events in area communities July 22-31

COVID-19 has affected the Redwood County Relay For Life fundraiser the same as it has everything else.

In previous years, Redwood County residents gathered on one evening and night of the year to raise funds for cancer research, usually at the Gilfillan estates, but occasionally at the Redwood County fairgrounds.

The local organizers didn’t want to just cancel it for this summer. After much discussion, the committed approved the idea of bringing the Relay for Life to 15 separate communities in Redwood County, instead.

Later this month, the 27th annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Redwood County will be held in all 15 communities in Redwood County, from July 22-July 31.

The plan calls for the committee and teams to “paint the towns purple”. Around the 22nd you will start seeing purple decorations to remind you of the Relay For Life. In some cases luminaries will also be put up. However, this year the paper bag luminaries will not have candles in them.

This year we will also not have the traditional meal or silent auctions either. Some teams might figure out a way to have a curbside meal. There will be donation containers put up in area businesses for people to give a donation to the Relay for Life if they wish.

Donations are used to fund lifesaving cancer research, patient support services, prevention and education information, and detection and treatment programs. Seventy-nine cents of EVERY dollar goes directly to fight cancer. Sixteen cents is spent on fundraising expenses for events nationwide. Only five cents of each dollar is used to fund management and general expenses.