NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, June 5.
PORT ANGELES — More than 150 team members will participate in the 28th annual Port Angeles Relay For Life that begins at 3 p.m. today.
Everyone is invited to the all-night party.
Festivities will continue until noon Saturday at the carnival field at the Clallam County Fairgrounds, 1608 W. 16th St.
During the 21-hour event, volunteers from the 18 registered teams will take turns walking the track all day and all night to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.
This year’s event theme is “Relay Like It’s 1985” — to celebrate the anniversary of the first national Relay For Life, said Samantha Oak, 2015 Relay For Life committee chairwoman.
From fashions to music, the 1980s will be relived, Oak said.
It will include a 2 a.m. showing of the 1985 family classic “The Goonies,” she said.
Active teams
According to the Relay For Life website, the largest team is “Stay Strong,” made up of 36 members — mostly students from Port Angeles High School.
The team with the most cash raised is the “Trash Cancer” team, which had $9,442.71 as of Wednesday evening.
The total raised by the teams as of Wednesday was $27,531.59, which she said was less than $500 from the 2015 relay goal of $28,000.
“This is the first year we’re almost to our goal before the relay,” Oak said.
Teams earn money by holding pre-relay events and gaining sponsors and pledges for laps.
Participants walk as many laps as possible, handing off highly decorated batons to other teammates when they can’t walk any farther.
Team members can dress in team uniforms or costumes, which can be whacky or symbolic — but fit the theme.
The real show will be the highly decorated tents, where relay participants will conduct ongoing fundraising activities to raise more money for cancer research.
Team tents can hold items for sale, small contests, games or activities to raise additional funds.
Donations can be made at the event or at the website http://relay.acsevents.org.
Concerts, food
The opening ceremony will be followed by 21 hours of concerts, contests and plenty of food.
“This year, we have a lot of bands,” Oak said.
Concerts will begin at 3:30 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m.
Musical offerings include shows by the Retro Guys, Vibraphones, PufnStuff, Small Fry, Black Diamond Junction and the Throddleheads.
Special laps
Planned special events and special laps will take place during the relay today and Saturday.
The Survivors Lap will begin at 6 tonight.
During the Survivors Lap, upbeat music will play as cancer survivors take victory laps around the track, cheered on by the other participants.
Each cancer survivor who registers at the event will receive a purple survivor’s shirt and a medal.
A “survivor” is anyone who has ever received a diagnosis of cancer, whether freshly diagnosed or cancer-free for 50 years.
Thirty-six survivors are registered, Oak said.
At 6:30 p.m., the Caregivers Lap is for anyone who ever cared for a person with cancer.
Caregivers walk a lap to be honored for their support, often with the person they helped.
A luminaria ceremony is set for 10 tonight.
During a luminaria ceremony, candles are lit inside paper bags filled with sand.
Each bag bears the name of a person touched by cancer.
Participants often walk a lap in silence.
Several “fun laps” include a Seahawks Lap, an ’80s Lap and a Midnight Madness Lap.
Check the accompanying schedule for special laps and times.
Hair donations
Pantene Beautiful Lengths haircuts begin at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Anyone with healthy, long hair who wishes to donate at least 6 inches of it will receive a free haircut by a professional stylist, Oak said.
Donated hair is made into wigs, which are given to chemotherapy patients who have lost their hair.
Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, just before the noon end of the event.
During the ceremony, participants will remember those who have been lost to cancer and celebrate the commitment of Relay for Life participants to fight back against this disease over the next year.
Where funds go
Almost half of the funds raised by the local relay remains with local organizations for the support of those fighting cancer, and about a third is used in cancer research.
About 7 percent of donated funds is used to pay for insurance, venue rentals, supplies and administrative costs.
The Port Angeles Relay for Life is one of the oldest continuing annual events. The national Relay for Life event organization began operations 30 years ago, with the Port Angeles group beginning its event only two years later, Oak said.
Other relays
The Port Angeles event is the first of several similar relays on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The Port Townsend event will be July 18-19 at Memorial Field, Forks’ will be July 31-Aug. 1 at Forks High School and the Sequim Relay for Life will be Aug. 8-9 at Sequim High School.
To learn more about the Relay for Life of Port Angeles, visit www.relayforlifeofportangeles.org, email megan.smothers@cancer.org or phone 425-404-2194.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
