Relay for Life of Marengo County is quickly approaching, and there is a full slate of events scheduled for Friday, May 10.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. It represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that, one day, cancer will be eliminated.

There will be entertainment and activities beginning at 6 p.m. for people to enjoy at the Demopolis City Landing. Some of the entertainment includes Camilla Tutt, Jones Colgrove, Margie Jackson and Steven Padila. There will also be a kids play area and other special events. This year’s theme is “Teaming Up for a Cure.”

“We have a lot of things lined up that people will enjoy,” Doris Stephens, chair of Marengo Relay for Life, said. “There will be a lot of entertainment, and we will also do different kinds of laps such as a purple-out lap, a crazy hat lap, a mother-daughter lap and an obstacle course lap.

So far, a total of $9,573.21 has been raised, as of the last monthly meeting on April 8. The goal for this year is $75,000.

Stephens said there are three main focuses for Relay for Life. There is a celebration of survivors, a hope ceremony, and a fight back.

In the celebration of survivors, there will be a banquet for survivors at Rooster Hall on the night of the event, with registration at 4:30 p.m., and the banquet from 5-6 p.m. After the banquet, there will be a parade of survivors down to the event at the landing.

The hope ceremony will honor survivors of cancer and also remember those who lost the battle with the disease. People can dedicate a luminaria in honor or in memory of a loved one lost to cancer for $5 for the ceremony. Luminaria are candles placed in paper bags that are placed around the track at Relay for Life. Each luminaria is lit in honor or in memory of someone who has faced cancer. He candles remain lit throughout the night, providing motivation for walkers as they pass by and see the names of the individuals. These can be ordered online at www.relayforlife.org/marengoal.

The fight back portion of the event will help promote healthy lifestyles, and let people know how they can fight back against cancer.

“We want to let everyone know we’re fighting for them, and that we will keep fighting,” Stephens said. “We are hoping for a lot of participation and involvement this year.”

The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will go to around 11 or 11:30 p.m. Many Relay for Life events across the country are overnight events, and Stephens said she hopes to build to that in the next year or so.

Relay for Life of Marengo County has 20 teams that are fundraising for the event, but three of them are not yet officially registered.

Stephens said she is also still looking for volunteers for the day of the event to help set up.

“We would love to have volunteers to come out and help with the set up of the event, as well as throughout the evening,” she said.

Setup will begin at 8 a.m. and it will take up to around 5:30 p.m., and the event begins at 6 p.m.

The sponsors for this year’s Marengo County Relay for Life are Rock-Tenn, Wal-Mart, Morning Star Baptist Church, Alabama Power, Robertson Banking Company, Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital, Dana Transport, Doric South, Amstar, Sweet Water State Bank and Parr’s Inc.