Relay for Life honors cancer victims, survivors

Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

For the first time since the pandemic, Preble County Relay for Life, and annual fundraiser supporting the American Cancer Society, was held on Saturday, July 22, at Seven Mile Park in Eaton.

Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald

EATON — For the first time since the pandemic, Preble County Relay for Life, and annual fundraiser supporting the American Cancer Society, was held on Saturday, July 22, at Seven Mile Park in Eaton.

According to Preble County Relay coordinator Tiana White, some 35 walkers and 17 survivors participated in the event, allowing the group to raise approximately $5,500.

They also ended up having 87 luminarias lining the park’s walking path during the event, representing loved ones touched by cancer. Luminarias can be dedicated to those who have been lost to cancer, those battling it, or anyone who has overcome it.

“The last two years, we did just a luminaria drive-by event up at the courthouse, because we were still concerned with Covid,” White said. “And of course, anytime you deal with cancer survivors, we were trying to err on the side of caution. So we were hoping to start building it back up again. We’re just doing a one hour walk this year hoping that maybe in the future, we can build it to more than that. But we wanted to still do something for survivors. And obviously, we always want to remember those that we’ve lost and honor those that are still around.”

This year’s relay consisted of the luminaria event and a one-hour walk in between.

“It used to be more of a team event,” White explained. “But it’s hard to get that large groups of people together anymore. So we are trying to take it more to just you can have a team if you wish, but you can also just come and walk on your own. You don’t have to gather a team together. So we’re trying to make it a little easier for people to join in and be a part of it.”

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on Twitter @emowenjr.