Relay For Life participants trek around Lyndon High School’s track during last year’s event. This year’s event, next Saturday, will be at Osage City.
One hundred years ago, the American Cancer Society started the fight of a lifetime, and there have been quite a few changes since then, including groundbreaking cancer research. During the 16th annual Relay For Life of Osage County you can join with your community and help make this cancer’s last century. “Finish the Fight” is this year’s theme for the community event that will be held 6 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Sept. 13, at the new Osage City Schools sports complex.
Previously the Osage County event had been held at the Lyndon High School track and was a 12-hour overnight event. Relay Chair Julie Trout shared the reason behind the changes.
“Participation in the Relay has decreased each year, so we are compromising in accord with the interest in the community and just having a six-hour event this year,” Trout said. “The 12-hour overnight event was designed to symbolize a cancer patient’s journey through their cancer treatment. We hope that we can still have a meaningful event, but increase participation with the shortened schedule. Moving it to the new track in Osage City is an opportunity for a different town to get a chance to host the county event, as well as new facilities for everyone to enjoy.”
Relay For Life is a team effort to raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s programs, services and cancer research. Teams raise funds prior to the event and then participate in ceremonies and lighting luminaries during the evening. The community is invited to come out and help celebrate those that have survived cancer and to remember those that have lost the battle. It’s also a chance to join in with others that have been touched by the effects of cancer and to learn ways to help fight back against the disease.
The silent auction begins at 5 p.m., with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. Activities throughout the evening include the luminaria ceremony at 8 p.m., with the lighting of luminaries around the track. The luminaries are dedicated to loved ones that have lost the battle and in honor of those that have survived cancer. Luminaries are $10 each and can be purchased the day of the Relay, as well as in advance. Other activities include a “Queen of Relay” at 10 p.m. with male participants fundraising to be crowned the winner. The Relay ends at midnight, following the Fight Back Ceremony promoting cancer prevention.
For more information about the Relay, contact event chairs Julie Trout at 785-608-8732, or Angie Gardner at 785-817-8952, or email ocrelayforlife@yahoo.com. Donations can be made at www.relayforlife.org/osagecountyks.
As someone with an economic development background I would like to see more countywide events (ex. Relay for Life) change locations around our county instead of being stuck in a rut because of "community ownership". Think about how great one county fair could be. Would it be a larger event that would generate more interest and participation? Could it move from community to community every year? Time to stop the neighbor bashing and think about promoting what we have that makes us unique. By the way, I think Lyndon is a great place to live!
You speak of "countywide" events. Recent history says it won't work. Remember the failed Osage County fireworks show at Melvern Lake? It didn't work. By the 2nd year Lyndon folks decided they didn't want to participate. Why isn't Lyndon growing? Lyndon has a prime opportunity with 1000's of cars daily on Highway 75 traveling down the middle of town. Heck, you guys can't even get a grocery store going. Doctor? Dentist? Nope, its all in Osage City. The court house will be moved to Osage City in due time. As it should be.
G.C. or H.B. – It's easy to get sentimental about the magical combination of hops, malts, yeast and water. And yes, something good does come out of a bottle of beer … it's called beer.
Regarding your thoughts on towns in Osage County, in my view they all have the same chance of living or dying. Osage City might be the biggest town in the county, but it's been slowly dying since the coal mines shut down and the depot closed. And now it exists only at the end of a narrow two-lane trail. And to top it off, it has a city council that seems to want to drive a stake in its heart. Like any town in the county, though, it doesn't have to die. It can grab a hold of its assets and quality of life and let the world know. Can you say Flint Hills Nature Trail? Really, all the towns in Osage County are great places to live and offer a good quality of life, though it's hard sometimes for the people who've lived here all their life to see.
Nice event and well attended. Lived in Lyndon over 20 years and still wonder why its shrinking and Osage City is growing. Being on Highway 75 Lyndon should be growing instead of slowly dieing. The court house should be moved to Osage City, they have everything. Grocery store, dentist, Doctor, many restaurants, new school and track, 2 auto parts stores, GM dealership 3 banks. And the most important thing…..Pizza Hut!
All you Lyndon folks need to quit your whining and crying! Moving the event to Osage City was a logical decision. The track at Osage is such a wonderful place to host an event. Its about "Relay for Life" and not about sour attitudes and comments from a few Lyndon residents regarding moving the event to Osage City.