The 10th annual Relay For Life event in Vincennes, Indiana will take place on May 14-15, 2005 at Gregg Park. Over 70 teams with approximately 2,500 participants are expected to raise over $200,000 to support cancer research by walking laps around the park over 24 hours. The event honors cancer survivors, caregivers, and remembers those lost to the disease. Guest speakers and entertainment are planned throughout the event.

1. Organizers ready for 10th annual Relay For Life
Vincennes Sun-Commercial (IN) - May 13, 2005
Author/Byline: JENNIFER EARLES, staff writer
Section: News
Vincennes' Gregg Park will be "Comin' Alive in 2005" Saturday when the American Cancer Society's 10th annual Relay For Life begins at
9 a.m.
Team members will begin setting up campsites and booths later today. Teams can register as early as 7 a.m. on Saturday.
"Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten," said Shirley Rose, Relay chairperson and director of
the American Cancer Society's satellite office. "And that those who face have cancer will be supported, and that one day we will find a
cure."
Organizers hope this year's 74 teams will top last year's fund-raising efforts that reached approximately $200,000. Since the event began
in Knox County, teams have raised $1.2 million.
The 24-hour event is more than raising money for the American Cancer Society. Participants also celebrate cancer survivors. Rose hopes
to see 2,500 people at Gregg Park, all to honor those newly diagnosed patients, long-term survivors, caregivers, friends and family. And,
also to remember those who have died.
Teams take turns walking or running laps around the park. At least one team member should be on the track for the duration of the event.
"Our time on the track represents one day in the life of a cancer patient," Rose said. "And we do it rain or shine." Only lightning, she said,
will keep teams off the track.
The National Weather Service is calling for a chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon Saturday, then a slight chance of
showers in the afternoon. The high should be in the low 70s, with an overnight low near 48 degrees.
Rose said visitors should bring rain jackets or ponchos, sunscreen and bug repellent. Teams also should pack tents, tarps, lawn chairs,
sleeping bags and lanterns.
Guests and teams should park their cars at Washington Elementary School, 2135 Washington Ave., or at the old Johnson Controls
building on Niblack Boulevard. The parking lot near Rainbow Beach, Rose said, is reserved for cancer survivors and caregivers.
No one, she said, should park in the Parkview Mobile Home Community parking lots at 2626 Washington Ave. until after 5 p.m. Saturday.
The Vincennes Police Department is asking drivers to use caution while traveling near Gregg Park, especially along Washington Avenue
and Niblack Boulevard.
Carroll Hamner will kick off the Relay For Life event as master of ceremonies and Dan Beery, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and 1993
North Knox High School graduate, is this year's guest speaker.
The Knox County American Cancer Society also has chosen five children, Madison Brook Gibson, 7, Vincennes, Justin Johanningsmeier,
16, Oaktown, Ashley Mouzin, 12, Vincennes, Bailey Stephens, 15, Bruceville, and Heather Steimel, 12, Vincennes, to be the 2005 Relay
For Life poster children.
Rose and other organizers also have coordinated teams to walk a lap in honor of Beery, beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday. Teams and visitors
can walk a lap with the Olympic Gold winner by picking up a "Dan Beery Walks For Relay" button and registering for the lap Saturday at
Gregg park. Buttons will be available for a $5 donation.
The luminaria ceremony will begin at 9 p.m. Saturday. Luminarias will be on sale until 9 p.m. Knox County residents have purchased
approximately 1,500 luminarias thus far, Rose said.
Music and other entertainment is planned throughout the event.
The closing ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday, when organizers will announce the total dollars collected this year and present team
awards.
Trash bags also will be distributed to teams, Rose said, to help clean up after the ceremony.
For more information about the 2005 Relay For Life, call Rose at 812-886-9007.

2. Caption: Staff photo by Kevin J. Kilmer Relay For Life volunteer Andy Yochum paints campsite numbers on the ground around Gregg
Park Thursday, as volunteers prepare the park for the event that begins Saturday at 9 a.m.
Record: /vsc/raw/articles/2005/05/13/news/news01.txt
Copyright: Copyright, 2005, Vincennes Sun-Commercial