Ready to Relay?

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life 2017, presented by "Adventist Health" is one week away at Meadowbook Park in Golden Hills on Saturday, July 8. Over 30 teams are putting the finishing touches on their booths offering lots of festivities for all to enjoy!

Registration for the public opens at 8 a.m. Teams can sign up or an individual can join a team by Thursday, July 6 and individuals can sign up the day of RELAY! Registration and Profiles of Teams which anyone can donate to, can be found at http://www.RelayforLife.org/TehachapiCA. You don't have to be a large team or sponsor to participate! One also does not have to be on a team to come out for the day and enjoy the festivities!

Opening ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. with this year's Inspirational 2017 THS Graduate and Survivor Speaker Taya Sheen of Team Taya, who is battling a rare form of Ewing Sarcoma Cancer; an aggressive soft-tissue tumor between her tibia and fibula in her lower left leg that only occurs in people ages 10-20. One becomes a Survivor the moment they are diagnosed! Grand Marshall and Veteran Richard Oldenburg will lead the Survivor Lap, followed by Caregivers, White Coats (Doctors/Nurses) and then veterans. Crowning the Survivors with their medals will be the beautiful Tehachapi Queens!

We are very excited with this year's offerings for the entire family. Teams will have many opportunity drawings for fabulous prizes, tasty food and baked goodies for sale. Team Believers will have a magician and face painting for the children. Team Cheetahs Chasing Down a Cure offer lap counting lanyards. One lucky participant can win a rare recently released coffee book "Penguins of America" personally autographed by the world's #1 Bestselling Writer James Patterson and son Jack from Team Paws for a Cause. Team Scouting for the Cure is making and selling Paracord/Survival Cord bracelets. Team Taya has created a Fundraiser T-shirt, which can be purchased at bit.ly/2sI5QMt. Team God's Army has made a quilt from former Relay shirts to be raffled off. Come down and join in the fun to win lots of surprises not mentioned here!

The Survivor Tent, sponsored by Agia Pharmacy, Tehachapi Veterinary Hospital, Stallion Springs General Store and South Street Digital Printing allows Survivors to relax and mingle, play games, meet some Oncology Medical Staff (TBC at press time) after the Laps. Recognition of Sponsors will be at 2 p.m.

Survivors will start the day with a continental breakfast courtesy of Carlos Donuts and Kohnen's Country Bakery, Dunkin Donuts coffee, McDonald's orange juice and fruit plates by Murray Family Farms, who will have a Farmers Market on site!

A scrumptious lunch for Survivors kicks off with a toast complements of Stallion Springs General Store, catered by Big Papa's Restaurant & Saloon. Luscious cupcakes and pie for dessert are courtesy of Victoria's Cake Shop, Linda's Cake 'n Things and Mill Street Kitchen. Prizes will be awarded throughout the day ranging from Hitching Post Theaters, Pioneer True Value, Mountain Gardens Nursery, Ancient Oaks Sugar Scrubs, Tehachapi Pet Lodge & Outfitters, to Barry's Barber Shop, to name a few.

The incredible day, which raises money for the American Cancer Society, winds down at dusk starting with the traditional Survivor/Luminaria Slideshow, followed by the heartfelt Luminaria Ceremony, Remembrance Lap and Closing Ceremony at 10 p.m. Please send photos to be included in the Slideshow to TehachapiRelaySurvivors @gmail.com.

We hope you come out to be a part of this special day; honoring loved ones who have survived, giving hope to those in the fight, keeping memories alive of loved ones no longer with us, and helping in the fight against cancer!