The rainy weather skirted Bluffton on Friday, June 20, allowing the local Relay for Life event to be held at the university stadium. While the final amount raised will not be formally announced for several weeks, it is anticipated that over $20,000 will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Chairperson, Lynda Best thanked the committee members and community for their support at the Saturday morning closing meeting. A wrap-up meeting will be set in two weeks and the Allen County representative from the American Cancer Society will be there to accept the proceeds.
Over 70 attended the survivor meal sponsored by Community Market. Participants enjoyed a chicken dinner and celebrated many years of survival against cancer. Most of the survivors and caregivers stayed to walk (or ride) the opening lap of the Relay.
This year’s event did not require individuals to be part of a specific team to walk laps in memory or celebration of a loved one. There were eight organized teams:
• Polished,
• Village Cut and Curl,
• Trinity Lutheran Church (Jenera),
• Bethel Church of Christ (Ada),
• Emmanuel United Church of Christ (Bluffton),
• English Lutheran Church (Bluffton),
• Team Blue,
• Beaverdam-Richland Fire Department, and
• the Rack Pack.
In addition, walkers wore shirts representing Tower Automotive and the Swick family, among others. Hundreds of community members gathered for walking, entertainment, food and auctions.
Highlights of the event included the first-ever 4x100 team relay with seven teams participating. Members of the Hilty family won both the adult and young divisions. Second place in the adult division was the English Lutheran Church team.
The annual pie auction featured 27 homemade pies with several of them bringing bids of over $100. Silent auction items and hand-painted chairs raised money for cancer research, as well.
Henry’s Restaurant participated in the Relay by assisting with the barbecue dinner fundraiser. Concession sales, ice cream, photographs, and jewelry were sold during the event, as well.
Bluffton University provided a wonderful facility and offered lots of assistance. Local individuals and companies sponsored tent and table rental, in kind and actual donations. The community also supported the Relay by sending sets of pink flamingos from home to home in the weeks prior to the event; over $2,000 was raised through the orders.
Donations are still being accepted to the Bluffton-area Relay for Life event. Money can be dropped off to Chase Bank, Polished, or Village Cut and Curl. For more information about the Bluffton event, contact Lynda Best 419-358-7593.
