Sky Valley Relay for Life runs Thursday at Monroe High

It's an event that gives triumph a face, as cancer survivors, friends and family members gather together in pursuit of a common goal ' raising money for the fight against cancer. It solemnly honors victims, as the memories of those who lost their lives are celebrated and cherished.-á

The Sky Valley Relay for Life committee hopes to coordinate the most successful Relay event ever this year, and invites the community to participate. The 2016 Relay for Life kickoff meeting takes place 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, in the Monroe High School cafeteria, and all are welcome to attend. Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's (ACS) largest fundraising effort, and each year hundreds of Sky Valley residents pack the football field at Monroe High School to take part.

Relay participants walk around the high school track constantly over the course of 24 hours; to represent the fact cancer never sleeps. Teams set up tents on the football field, and strive to have at least one team member circling the track throughout the entire event.

Last year's Relay event in late May raised $118,700 and had a total of 576 participants on 63 different teams. Eighty-six survivors were honored during the "Survivor's Lap,GÇ¥ which is one of the most touching and emotional parts of Relay, along with the luminaria ceremony.-á

Monroe residents Linda Huskey and Linda Pearl co-chaired last year's event and will do so again this year.

"Our day of Relay is when we all get the opportunity to celebrate, remember and fight back,GÇ¥ Pearl said.

Relay for Life focuses on all forms of cancer. The money raised during Relay is dedicated to cancer research and the numerous ACS programs that -á support cancer patients as they undergo treatment. ACS programs like Road to Recovery, Look Good Feel Better and Hope Lodge are all supported through fundraising efforts like Relay for Life.

This year's opening ceremonies will take place noon Saturday, June 4, and the event continues through Sunday, June 5. Whether signed up on a team or just passing by, everyone is invited to attend Relay for Life and enjoy the numerous activities that take place throughout the day.-á

New to the Relay planning team this year is Caroline Sides, whose company SidesSounds will serve as the official event DJ and emcee. She is taking the place of longtime Relay volunteer Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon, who decided to take this year off from the Sky Valley event to travel to eastern Washington to support friend Kevin Johnson. Johnson, whose wife, Lis, is a leukemia survivor, will be chairing a Relay for Life event across the mountains.-á

Johnson and his family moved to the Spokane area in August 2014, but returned last year to participate in Relay. Johnson and Dixon co-chaired the Sky Valley event in 2012 and 2013.-á

This year's Relay includes the traditional lip sync competition, Relay bingo, a Mr. Relay pageant, a themed lap, food, vendors and the luminaria ceremony. During the evening luminaria, small paper bags are positioned around the track and lighted with LED candles. The bags are decorated by those who have lost loved ones to cancer, each bag symbolizing someone who lost the fight.

Relay participants walk a lap in silence once all the bags have been lit.

This year's Relay for Life theme will be "Lights, Camera, Relay,GÇ¥ and guests are being invited to incorporate that theme as creatively as they wish. For more information about Sky Valley's Relay for Life event, visit www.facebook.com/rflskyvalley/?fref=ts or http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=75536.-á