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Saturday, August 2, 250 enthusiastic team members from the Chisago Lakes area will participate in southern Chisago County’s annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The all-night event is at Lindstrom at the Chisago Lakes High School field and track.

Teams of 8 to 15 people have been raising money for the last few months and are now preparing to walk in relay fashion all night, in one of the most emotional and stirring events of the summer.

Fourteen local sponsors have helped fund this event: Fairview Lakes Regional Health Care, Plastic Products Co., Inc., Forest Lake Ford, Novak GMC Center, Chisago County Press, The RiverBank MN, Chisago County Abstract, First State Bank of Wyoming, Stock Building Supply, R.E. Peterson Inc., Security State Bank of Marine, Chisago Lakes Lions, Shafer Contracting and Mainstreet Bank.

Activities start at 4 p.m. with on-site team fundraising, a Silent Auction, children’s games and a Moonwalk. From 4 - 7 p.m. a community picnic supper will be served. Lance Larsin will be grilling pork tenderloin sandwiches, brats and hamburgers. Chisago County Public Health will be available from 4- 7 p.m. to answer questions and provide informational displays. A reception for area cancer survivors will be held from 5- 6 p.m. All cancer survivors are invited to attend. They will be presented with a rose and receive a t-shirt, pin and ribbon.

At 6 p.m. Jody Sellman, Event Chair, presides over the opening ceremony with welcoming remarks and introduction of this year’s honorary chair, Jesse Helgestad. Following the opening ceremony a color guard leads the survivors around the track for a victory lap. The walk officially begins as all the teams enter and circle the track together. At dusk, thousands of luminaries will be lit during an inspirational ceremony to memorialize or honor loved ones affected by cancer.

Entertainment will be provided throughout the evening. The popular Lake Country Cloggers will perform at 7 p.m. and live music by The Enmeshments will start at about 9 p.m. Karaoke will keep things lively from 12 to 2 a.m. Teams will be selling refreshments at various times during the evening.

The entire community is invited to participate in this fun and inspiring event.

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