By Lisa Peterson

Special to the Forum

Hearing the words, “You have cancer” can be devastating. Having the support of friends and family can make a huge difference when going through a cancer battle.  What if people take it a step further and add the support and encouragement of an entire community? 

That exciting prospect exists through Relay For Life. Relay For Life gives the community an opportunity to Celebrate Cancer Survivors, Remember those people that have been lost to cancer, and learn about ways individuals can fight back against cancer through cancer prevention and education, early screenings, lifestyle changes, and advocacy efforts. 

While Relay For Life is focused on these three things—Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back, there are many other things that go on at Relay For Life. There are countless activities that people can partake of at the Relay—a silent auction, a variety of food at various campsites, kids games and bounce house, wacky hair, massages, and much more. This year, organizers have added some new things for the public to enjoy: a classic car show, bingo and food trucks. The evening also presents an opportunity to see people those who attend may not have seen for a while and to enjoy conversation. The atmosphere is exciting and welcoming. 

“People tell me, ‘There is just a spirit at Relay. It’s hard to explain, but it’s exciting and inspirational,” said Lisa Peterson, Chair of the event.  

In addition to all the activities, people will want to experience the Opening Ceremony, which features the inspirational Survivors Lap and the dove release, and the Luminaria Ceremony, which precedes the lighting of the luminaries. 

“People really enjoy the quiet, peaceful time during and after the lighting of the luminaries,” said Peterson. “It’s very moving.” 

Another aspect of the Relay For Life that has deep meaning for people is the opportunity to purchase and decorate luminaries for loved ones who are battling cancer or who have died from cancer. These luminaries can be purchased in advance from any of the teams involved in this year’s Relay, then can be decorated In honor of a cancer survivor or in memory of someone we lost.  In addition to purchasing from teams, one can also purchase luminary bags at United Community Bank or at Perham Health. Luminaries can be purchased up until the date of the Relay (July 11), but should be returned to either location prior to July 9, so that they get to the fairgrounds prior to the luminary set-out at 2 p.m. on July 11.

Those who are a cancer survivor or have a loved one who is a cancer survivor, there are some ways to receive/provide support.  These include attending the Cancer Survivors Dinner on Thursday, July 10, at Perham Lakeside Event Center and attending the Relay For Life on July 11, at the EOT Fairgrounds. The survivors dinner provides a chance to network with other cancer survivors and to celebrate life. The dinner is free to cancer survivors, and the event’s speaker, Donny Braun.  The Relay For Life affords many ways to honor survivors, from providing a Survivor shirt to cancer survivors, to the opportunity to purchase a luminary or a dove for the dove release, to the experience of walking in the Survivors Lap. 

To inquire about attending the Survivors Dinner, contact Laurine Braukmann at (218) 457-1026. For the Survivors Lap, luminaries, or doves, just come out to the Relay For Life of Otter Tail County at the EOT Fairgrounds on Friday, July 11, any time after 5:30 p.m. If you are a caregiver or friend, one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved one is to go with him/her to the Relay For Life and celebrate with him/her.

The involvement and support of those who attend the American Cancer Society Relay For Life or donate to this event is crucial to the work that the American Cancer Society does. A total of 81 percent of the American Cancer Society’s expenses go directly toward funding their mission to improve the lives of people with cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support, so that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Residents in East Otter Tail County benefit from many of the American Cancer Society services, including stays at Hope Lodges in Rochester or Minneapolis.

In fact, last year, Otter Tail County had 70 cancer patients and their families stay at Hope Lodges, free of charge, for 1,129 nights.  Otter Tail County ranked second-highest in the state for number of stays at Hope Lodges.

Mark July 11 on calendars and plan to attend the 2025 Relay For Life of Otter Tail County at the EOT Fairgrounds.