The all-night outdoor party at Brennan Park all-weather field is back and better than ever next week. The evening of Friday, June 24, marks the return of the annual Squamish Relay for Life and anyone who hasn't experienced the remarkable event should seriously consider doing so this year.
With a fabulous lineup of live entertainment, activities, and feel-good services, the 12-hour overnight relay gathering promises to be a frolicking good time, despite the serious intentions behind it.
Presented by the Canadian Cancer Society as a nationwide fundraiser for cancer research, education and support services, the Relay for Life has been taking place nationwide for 11 years and, in 2010, raised more than $54 million at 485 events across Canada.
"It's been happening for six years in Squamish," said Lisa Merrick, Squamish Relay for Life co-ordinator. "We're at the $500,000 mark for the six years that we've participated in the Relay for Life as a community, and we just want it to continue to grow."
With more than 350 participants registered on more than 30 teams plus volunteers, performers and the public, Merrick estimates 1,200 people will be at the relay grounds at any given time during the early part of the evening between 6 and 10 p.m. when the main events are planned.
Starting at 6 p.m., a children's activity tent with crafts, face painting and a bouncy castle will be open, and performances by the Mamquam Elementary School choir and Don Ross Secondary School jazz band will take place, as well as a catered dinner served by G-Van Catering (online pre-purchase only).
Opening ceremonies announcing the top fundraisers will begin at 6:45 p.m., followed by a 10-minute group warmup routine led by Zhumba instructor and kineseologist Krista Biggar from Squamish Physio.
"It's dance to upbeat, energetic music," Biggar said. "It's just going to be active flowing get people's heart beats up and ready for the race."
After the relay kicks off at 7 p.m. with an initial celebration lap for cancer survivors followed by a team spirit lap, the fun begins at 8 p.m. with a "Jail-N-Bail" event involving a mock jail set up next to the stage.
"We will arrest our jail-and-bail participants, which are currently [Mayor] Greg Gardner and [Chamber of Commerce executive director] Eliot Moses," Merrick said. "They can call people from the jail to try and raise their money."
"They've committed to being in there for an hour, and hopefully they'll raise the amount of money they've set as their bail. If they don't, well, obviously we're going to let them out," she laughed.
Montreal's The Shifters will be the first live musical act to hit the stage at 8:15 p.m. followed by locals' favourite The Bushwackers at 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, two silent auctions beginning at 6 p.m. - with cut-off times of 10 p.m. and midnight, respectively - will offer a select group of items including various hotel stays and a 10-ticket Vancouver Canadians Nat Pack.
"There's tons of businesses throughout the corridor that have contributed to the silent auction and it usually brings in about $8,000 on its own by the end of the night, which is a huge bonus to our fundraising efforts," Merrick said.
Massage and henna tattoos by donation will also be available in the "Look-N-Feel Good" tent, along with haircuts offered by the Beehive Hair Salon from 9 to 11 p.m. Anyone who wants to donate their hair that is 20 centimetres or longer can sign up for a head shave and donate it to the Canadian Cancer Society Wig Bank.
The inspirational highlight of the evening for many - the Luminary Ceremony - will take place at twilight, starting at 10 p.m. The Luminaires - which cost $5 each and can be purchased until 9 p.m. - are candles in small personalized bags placed in order alphabetically by last name around the track in memory of those who have died of cancer or in support of those fighting it.
"We allow people - if they want - to light their own special luminaire that they purchased," said Merrick, "then we come around and light the rest of them."
The tribute ceremony will end with a silent candle lap, and the soulful music of Whistler-based singer/songwriter Susan Holden will fill the air until 11 p.m.
Belly dancing, Caribbean music, limbo, karaoke, hula hooping, three-legged races, tug-o-war and a giant Twister are planned for the midnight hours, while themed laps like Crazy Hat, Super Hero, PJ, and Backwards will keep relayers laughing until the early morning. A detailed schedule will be printed in the programs available at the event and Double Shutter Images will be on hand to capture the action.
MC'ing the event for the entire 12 hours will be Squamish's John French, who will do all the announcing to keep people motivated and involved in the activities all night long. Water, coffee and tea will be provided and revellers will be treated to a 5 a.m. pancake breakfast. People are asked to bring their reusable containers and mugs to help cut down on the waste.
"The event itself is part of the fundraising effort," Merrick said. "People that don't know what the relay is all about should come down and check it out."
"They'll be hooked."
