FORKS — The 10th annual Forks Relay For Life will joust against cancer beginning at3 p.m. today at the Forks High School Spartan Stadium.
“We’re going to have knight races, knight games and knights and horses,” said Cindy Mesenbrink, chairwoman of the Forks relay committee, as volunteers raise money for the American Cancer Society to fight cancer.
The 2104 “Knight with a Fight for a Cure” Relay For Life will begin with a “soft start” when walkers begin laps around the Forks High School track and will continue nonstop until noon Saturday.
Forks High School is at 261 Spartan Ave., but the track is reached via Elderberry Street.
This year, cancer survivors will be crowned the royalty of the event at 6 p.m.
101-year-old survivor
Survivor Pearl Lucken, who is 101, will be crowned Queen of the Relay, Mesenbrink said.
In keeping with the theme, many participants in the relay will dress as knights or in other medieval costumes, she said.
Activities will include a catapult contest.
“The teams are very excited about their catapults,” Mesenbrink said.
The traditional luminaria ceremony will be at 10 p.m. today. Candles placed in paper sacks will be lit in memory of those who have lost their lives to cancer and to honor those who have survived the disease.
Live music is planned throughout the relay.
Locks of Love will cut hair from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The nonprofit makes wigs from donated hair for those who have suffered hair loss from medical procedures, such as chemotherapy.
Eleven teams and 109 participants have signed up for the Forks relay this year, according to the Forks Relay For Life website at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-forksrelay14.
Working toward goal
As of Thursday morning, Forks contributors had raised $22,191 for the American Cancer Society.
This year’s target goal is $35,000, Mesenbrink said.
Fundraising for Relay For Life began months ago and continues during and after the event, she said.
Mesenbrink is one of the top individual fundraisers. She had raised $1,260 as of Wednesday.
Diane Edwards had raised the largest amount — $1,651 — while Emma Noble had pulled in $1,605.
Top fundraisers
Top team fundraisers were:
■ Puddle Jumpers — $4,306.
■ Fireball Walkers — $1,800.
■ St. Anne’s Saints — $1,568.
More information about the Forks relay can be found on its Facebook page.
The final North Olympic Peninsula Relay For Life, set in Sequim, will take place Aug. 8-9 from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. at the Sequim High School track.
The Port Angeles relay took place June 7-8. The Port Townsend relay was July 27-28.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
