TAMAQUA AREA RELAY FOR LIFE COMING BACK TO TAMAQUA

Pictured during a recent Relay For Life meeting are volunteers, from front left, Major Sharon Whispell, Donna Folweiler, Sharon Oravec and Linda Heigle. Middle row from left are Cathy Johnson, Amanda Kuhn, Linda Whetstone (publicist), Kim Chase Rehrig, 9, Kim Zoba and Heather Eltringham. From back left are Ilyse Hampton (chair), Matt Moyer (co-chair), David Rehrig (web coordinator), Rosalee Rehrig DO (mission chair), Claire Burns and Amie Yenser (survivor chair). Not pictured is Donna Moyer (luminary chair). — Pictured during a recent Relay For Life meeting are volunteers, from front left, Major Sharon Whispell, Donna Folweiler, Sharon Oravec and Linda Heigle. Middle row from left are Cathy Johnson, Amanda Kuhn, Linda Whetstone (publicist), Kim Chase Rehrig, 9, Kim Zoba and Heather Eltringham. From back left are Ilyse Hampton (chair), Matt Moyer (co-chair), David Rehrig (web coördinator), Rosalee Rehrig DO (mission chair), Claire Burns and Amie Yenser (survivor chair). Not pictured is Donna Moyer (luminary chair).

The Tamaqua Area American Cancer Society Relay For Life is coming back to the Tamaqua Area School District Sports Stadium after being held three years at the Hometown Farmers Market and two years at the Panther Valley Stadium.
This year’s relay is scheduled for Friday, June 20 to Saturday, June 21 from 2 PM to 2 PM.
In 1993, the Mahoning Valley Farmers Market in Lehighton served as the venue for the first annual Tamaqua Area Relay for Life, with proceeding activities taking place at the Tamaqua stadium.
Since its start, Tamaqua Relay has raised a total of over $1 million.
This year’s Relay chair, Ilyse Hampton, an American Cancer Society Relay For Life specialist, is encouraging area residents, businesses or organizations to start a relay team or get involved.
Relay Teams are already in full swing arranging a number of events in preparation for both the relay and Cancer Telethon (April 5-6).
This year’s Power of Purple Party will be held Friday, March 7 from 7 PM to 10 PM at the West Penn Fire Company. The event, which honors those who survived cancer, includes dancing, music, door prizes and raffle baskets. She added that light refreshments and beverages will be provided. It is a B.Y.O.B. event. Admission is $5. For more information about the Power of Purple Party call (570) 874-1413 or (570) 386-8422.
Another popular event next month includes the American Cancer Society Telethon Chinese Auction. It will be held Sunday, March 23 at the Lakeside Ballroom. Doors open at 12 PM. Browsing lasts until 3 PM. Some top prizes include a $1,000 cash prize, Dell laptop, Xbox One, Disney Hopper passes, vacations, fuel oil, Kindle, gas gift cards, restaurant certificates, IPad Air, 32 inch HD TV, Nascar Sprint Cup Tickets and much more. Adding to the event is a bake sale and special LIVE broadcast from WNGH Polka Joe. For more information about the auction, contact Mary Ann Madula at (570) 645-4228, via email at madula@ptd.net or via www.CancerTelethon.org.
Another event scheduled later in March is a Tamaqua Area Relay For Life Breakfast scheduled for Sunday, March 30 from 10 AM to 12 PM at St. Peter’s Church in Mantzville. Cancer survivors eat free. Other admissions are $6 or $4 for children aged 12 and under.
The first Relay For Life event was held in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington, by Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, who recently received his own cancer diagnosis, and is the nation’s largest overnight, 24-hour, nonprofit walk event.
All proceeds from the relay benefit the American Cancer Society.
To donate, register a team or for more information about the Relay, call Hampton, American Cancer Society Relay For Life specialist, at (570) 874-1413 (ext 2101) or go to www.relayforlife.org/patamaquaarea.
The Facebook page for the event is www.facebook.com/RFLTamaqua.
The next Relay meeting is scheduled for March 3 at 6 PM at the Tamaqua Salvation Army.