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Parade kicks off Relay For Life benefit in Kane |
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Written by Publisher
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Friday, 10 July 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
Cancer survivors ride on a float Thursday in the Relay For Life parade in Kane. The parade kicks off the annual 24-hour Relay For Life at the outdoor track at Kane Area High School. The event begins at noon today.
By Ted Lutz
Republican Staff
A large crowd lined both sides of Fraley Street for the Relay For Life parade on a near-perfect Thursday evening in Kane.
The parade featured members of the 20 teams which will take part in the annual Relay For Life to raise money for the fight against cancer. The 24-hour event begins at noon today at the outdoor track at Kane Area High School. The public is encouraged to visit the site during the community event.
The 30-minute parade also featured "queens" representing many of the teams. The "queens" – men in dresses and wearing makeup – exited their open vehicles near the Arlington Hotel and "walked the streets" to solicit donations.
Participants in the parade also thrilled the children by scattering wrapped candy along the route.
Members of the Relay teams will be taking turns in walking around the track all night. The American Cancer Society, which helps organize the fund-raising events in Kane and other communities, points out that the Relay is held for 24 hours because "cancer never sleeps."
Floats in the parade Thursday carried some of the Kane area cancer survivors. Many wore purple – the color to mark the event. Curbs along the parade route were also decorated with purple tape. A large banner across Fraley Street in the Uptown Business District calls attention to the annual Relay For Life.
Kane area volunteer fire departments participated in the parade with their trucks and emergency vehicles.
A Kane school band also marched in the parade along with various other groups, including Scouts and youth baseball players. Candidates for Miss McKean County also rode in open vehicles in the parade along with Ally Carpenter of Mt. Jewett, the reigning Miss McKean County.
A highlight of the Relay will be the Luminaria Ceremony at 9 o'clock tonight at the high school track. These lights will be lit for those who lost their battle with cancer, those fighting cancer and those who have fought cancer and won.
For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at 368-3646 or 888-227-5445, ext. 3012.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 30 July 2009 )
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