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You are here: Community Features Relay For Life Gallup: ‘The Eighties, the Start of Something New’

Relay For Life Gallup: ‘The Eighties, the Start of Something New’

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The Annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life event will take place in Gallup on June 12. All survivors of cancer are invited to attend and be our honored guests!  At registration they will receive free t-shirts while supply lasts, and other goodies. They are asked to check in at 6 pm.  The Opening Ceremony begins at 7 pm.

This is the fourth year Relay is taking place in downtown Gallup at the Courthouse Square.  The teams hope that all of Gallup will come out for Relay For Life!  The festivities continue all night because, as we say, “Cancer never sleeps and for one more - night, neither do we.”

The closing ceremony is at 8 am, Saturday morning, June 13 is a time to celebrate our accomplishments.

At this event Relay For Life Teams camp out around the track.  Relay is a celebration of life, those who have survived this menace and those who have cared for them.  It is also a time to remember the (too) many that have been lost.  Relay teams have a member walking the track throughout the night.

During the year teams have raised money and awareness by holding events. Fundraising opportunities continue the night of Relay, June 12.  Food, games and activities provide entertainment. It is a family-friendly environment for the entire community.  No alcohol, smoking or pets are allowed.

It is great fun! Come, and once there you’ll probably find it hard to leave.  There are many moments that create the Relay experience.  The Survivors Lap starts off Relay.  Survivors are invited to circle the track together with their caregivers.  The Team Parade follows with the teams showing off their costumes and enthusiasm.  After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony.  Candles are lit; each bag bearing the name of a person touched by cancer.  All participants walk for a few minutes in silence, in honor and remembrance.

We fight back against cancer by raising money for the American Cancer Society for research, education, advocacy and services.  One Relay activity that brings in a crowd is the Purse Auction at about 8pm.  Various purses and male bags (tackle boxes, briefcases, or whatever) will be up for auction.  The contents are worth at least $25 and several special prizes, including a new Dyson vacuum cleaner, and some terrific gift certificates which are worth much more!

Once again this year we will cap off the morning with our unique Box Car Race. Teams have built and decorated Box Cars that will be displayed at their campsites throughout the evening. The public will select their favorite box cars with monetary “votes.”  There are nice prizes for the team who collects the most money. At 7:30 am the race begins! Team members “wear” their box cars and run around the track. One year a team had a fire truck “worn” by 3 firefighters in full gear!

Again this year we will have our Downtown Scavenger Hunt. The Downtown Business Development group- BID- has been  very supportive of our event. To honor that support, we’re taking our Relay downtown from midnight to 1am at

Sammy C’s Pub & Grill.  Join in this fun-filled, puzzle-solving, careful-counting, exploration of this downtown restaurant.  Everyone is invited to participate and there is no entry fee.  Terrific prizes have been donated by the downtown businesses and BID!

Throughout the night we’ll have games, activities for all ages, special laps, teams selling items or food and having different activities at their campsites.  Come to Relay and enjoy a Navajo Burger or Navajo Hot Dog, regular burgers and hot dogs will also be available; Fry Bread, Root Beer Floats and more.  Activities include Karaoke, Twister, Rock/Paper/Scissor tournaments, life-size Pac Man, exercise classes, line dancing and many more.

All night long PJ, our favorite DJ, will keep the Relayers up and going with music and laughter. Don’t be concerned if you’re unable to walk long distances.  Only teams are required to have someone on the track at all times.  Visitors are welcome to walk or not as they choose.

Unique GALLUP WALKS TO CRUSH CANCER T-shirts will be on sale at half-price — $10 each!  Luminarias can be purchased until shortly before the ceremony for a donation of at least $5.  You are welcome to decorate your own bags.  If you’d like to create your bags early, contact any Relay For Life team member or call Linda (505) 722-2175. Other items including fun sunglasses, flashlights, ball caps and fleece blankets will be available to purchase at our sales trailer.

Come out Gallup and our neighbors in the surrounding area, and fight cancer with us!  Bring your money!  Talk to us about starting your own teams for next year or joining our Relay For Life Board.  We are committed to find a cure!

As of June 3, Relay For Life-Gallup’s 13 teams and 121 participants have raised $21,353 for the American Cancer Society.