PHOENIXVILLE – Dust off your walking shoes, start stretching and plan to have some fun, because Relay For Life of Phoenixville’s Fifth Anniversary Celebration of Freedom is just two weeks away! If you are not a registered participate, this is NOT A PROBLEM. The registration booth on Washington Field will be open from 5 p.m.— 11 p.m., supplied with lots of extra T-shirts.
Join us for Opening Ceremonies at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 2, on Washington Field at 1330 S. Main Street, in the Phoenixville Area School District.
The evening opens with an invocation, a message of inspiration and special recognition for Relay For Life partners and guests. Dr. Christopher Holroyde, director of the Cancer Center at Phoenixville Hospital, will speak, and Relay Co-Chair Dee Jowder will read a moving and inspirational poem written by Phoenixville’s Poet Laureate, Anthony Gulotta.
Sandra Zimmermann, who is a ten-year survivor of breast cancer, has been named Honorary Survivor for 2008. If you’ve been to community events, you’ve seen Sandra, undoubtedly hard at work for a good cause. Not only has she been involved with Relay since 2004, Sandra has volunteered her time for many organizations in the Phoenixville Community.
Look for Sandra to speak about her personal battle with cancer, and wave to her as she and her husband Ken and children Joel and Rachel lead the Survivors’ Lap, the very first lap around the track.
Following that, the track is open for business, so grab some friends, form a team and come out to Relay to help raise money for cancer research!
At 9 p.m., join us for Luminary Ceremony, which honors those who have both survived their battles with cancer, and those who have passed away.
Luminary bags, which can be purchased for a donation on the day of Relay For Life at the Registration Tent, or by filling out the Luminary Order form, available by clicking on the Relay logo on the Phoenixville Area School District’s website, www.pasd.com.
This year, an activities committee, chaired by Phoenixville Area High School student Troy Tabb and advised by PASD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Maria Schwab and PASD Assistant Principal Craig Parkinson, has planned games and other special events on both Friday and Saturday. Many thanks for the students in Destinations With Directions for their assistance.
Children will enjoy a magician, story time, face painting and puppet making while teens take part in karaoke, a scavenger hunt, a jump rope contest, bingo and a pie eating contest!
And for the adults who want a little fun and excitement, come play Trivia Time!, bingo, or Name That Tune, or sing your heart out during karaoke time. Or, you can just sit back and relax at the Day Spa, which will be held on the field from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday.
And don’t forget the traditional 11 p.m. Ice Cream Social – one of the highlights of Relay! A $5 donation will get you a dish of Petrucci’s ice cream and access to the coveted Toppings Table, where you can load your sundae with everything from sprinkles to whipped cream and cherries to different flavors of sauces! At midnight, a pie eating contest is open to everyone!
For a complete list of Relay activities, please visit www.pasd.com/PASD/District/News/relayactivities.htm.
For those of you who decide to camp out, find your inner designer and decorate those campsites! The winner will be announced at the end of Relay.
And wake up to a beautiful song by the Bethel Baptist Inspirational Choir during the Sunrise Ceremony on Saturday morning.
Closing Ceremonies will be held at noon on Saturday. We will present the survivor’s quilt, recognize teams and accomplishments, and hear our total raised for the event.
And after four fabulous and much-appreciated years of service to Relay, Ginger Katzenmoyer of Harpoon Louie’s has turned over the food booth to Kurt’s Krew, in memory of Kurt Klotzbach. Lots of food will be available for purchase. So come hungry and leave full because all proceeds benefit Relay For Life of Phoenixville.
To date, the wonderful, generous community of Phoenixville has raised $1,275,798 to help fund cancer research. Let’s keep up the pace and stand and fight alongside our friends and loved ones who have battled this disease. Make Phoenixville’s 5th Year Celebration of Freedom the best ever!
Phoenixville has always been a remarkably strong community. We hope to see you all there supporting this most important cause. And remember “It’s about a community that takes up the fight!”
Karin Williams
PR Chairperson
Relay For Life of Phoenixville