Marion, IL – On July 20th, local participants will join together at the annual Relay For Life Festival of Hope, which includes Williamson, Franklin, Saline and Gallatin Counties at The Pavilion of the City of Marion to help beat our biggest rival – cancer. A pre-event Survivor Reception will start at 3:30 pm for local cancer survivors and their caregivers.

An RSVP is required to attend the Survivor Reception, please RSVP to either Beth Harness at 618-925-1614 or Martha Clendenin at 618-694-4375 by July 13th.

At 5 pm a Survivor Lap will happen during the Opening Ceremonies to start off the evening’s festivities. It doesn’t matter if you were diagnosed 10 days ago or 10 years ago, you can walk the Survivor Lap while everyone gathers together to cheer you on.

From 5 pm – 9 pm Relay For Life will be in full swing. Check out a variety of booths and food stands from Relay For Life teams and sponsors, participate in activities and games, have some fun in the bounce house, grab a bagel from Winston’s Bagels by B-Rad, sit and enjoy music from Johnathan Len and Towards Tomorrow.

At 9 pm join in the Luminaria Ceremony. During this ceremony ACS/R4L represent everyone touched by cancer with a Luminaria. Each light represents a life—a life taken by cancer, a survivor of cancer, or a support for a person still fighting the disease. It’s a powerful demonstration that gives people the opportunity to grieve but also offers comfort and hope.

Funds raised from Relay For Life events allow the ACS to attack cancer in dozens of ways, each of them critical to achieving a world without cancer – from developing breakthrough therapies and innovative research, to building supportive communities that come together to help those affected by cancer with access to treatment.

VisitRelayforlife.org/williamsonIL or find them on Facebook at Relay For Life of Williamson, Franklin, Saline, and Gallatin County (@WilliamsonIL).