Get ready Callaway residents: It's almost relay time.
"The Callaway County Relay for Life will be June 3," event leader Linda Boshers said. "We will have entertainment all day long, and it is open to the public at no charge."
Boshers said the American Cancer Society programs go from noon-midnight. The relay and festivities will take place at Callaway Electric Cooperative, 1313 Cooperative Drive, Fulton.
"We will have a car and motorcycle show, and the Mule Kickers will be there again," she said. "There will be games and other kids' activities, as well as a sanctioned kiddy tractor pull."
Even though the relay is just around the corner, Boshers said new teams can still be created.
"It's never to late to start a team for the relay," she said. "We don't require a team to raise a certain amount (of money). We encourage everyone, even those not on a team, to come to the relay."
If someone is itching to do some running and is not on a team, the Glow Run is the place for them, Boshers said.
"The Glow Run is open to the public," she said. "At 8 p.m., participants will run around the track with lights as the lead up to the Luminaria ceremony."
Boshers said the Luminaria event is the emotional culmination for many people affected by cancer.
"The Luminaria is a way to celebrate survivors, as well as remember the people who have lost their fight with cancer," she said. "We do it after dark; we light candles for survivors and those who have passed and say their names."
The Luminaria is a touching and somber event, Boshers said.
"It always gets to me emotionally," she said. "My husband died of cancer in 1989."
Painting the county purple
"Paint the County Purple helps get people aware of the upcoming relay," Boshers said. "It starts May 22; people all of the county will start participating."
Boshers said the event is also a competition between the participants.
"We will have a winner from every community who participates," she said. "The winner will be chosen by a vote on Facebook. Whoever has the most 'likes' wins."
Boshers said the city will also be decked out in purple, which is the official Relay for Life Color.
"Signs will go up all over town," she said. "We will also have a banner up by Walmart; Paint the County Purple is how we get many people involved. It really spreads the word."
Fulton business owner Caitlin Wentworth said she gets very involved for the event.
"I am actually the chair for Paint the County Purple," she said. "We have sold different handmade items that my team member makes. I also sell 'circle of hope' bracelets; all the money of from that goes right to relay."
Her store also has a window display for relay, Wentworth said, but she's not quite there yet.
"I will be putting up a window display for the event," she said. "I haven't started on it yet, though."
Caregiver brunch
The Survivor and Caregiver brunch is on Saturday.
"Any cancer survivor or caregiver is invited, at no charge," she said.
The brunch will be 8-11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 701 Court St.
"We are currently working on the menu," she said. "But, we always have biscuits and gravy because people love those. We will also have breakfast casserole, coffee, juice and some sweet things, too."
The RSVP deadline for the brunch has passed, but Wentworth said no hungry customer will be turned away.
If you would like to participate in the Callaway County Relay for Life, contact Joy Shawley at [email protected] or 573-310-1587. To RSVP for the brunch, contact Linda Boshers at 573-592-9320.