Time to Start Getting Ready for the Marion County Relay for Life

There was an organizational meeting for the upcoming Marion County Relay for Life Monday (Jan. 27).

Fourteen teams have signed up so far for the annual fund raising effort for the American Cancer Society. And, according to organizer Ron Melson, there are room for plenty more.

The rule of thumb if you're a member of a Relay for Life team is that you need to raise at least $100 for your squad. And, generally speaking, you can as creative as you like as far as how you go about raising money. About 80% of the money raised through the relay goes to cancer research.

This year's 18th annual Marion County Relay for Life is Friday and Saturday, June 6-7 at Flower City Park in Palmyra. There will be a reception for cancer survivors in the Sesqui Building before the relay begins. The relay begins at 6 p.m. with a survivor's lap and then a caregiver's lap. Then, at dusk, comes the luminaria ceremony to celebrate those who have won their battle with cancer and to remember those who didn't.

If you'd like to put together a team for the relay, call Ginger Hodson at 573-221-1359.

We visited with Ron Melson on KHMO Talk Back Tuesday (Jan. 28).

ORIGINAL STORY-Jan. 22, 2014

It's not too early to start getting ready for the 2014 Marion County Relay for Life.

On a recent KHMO Talk Back program, we visited with "Mr. Relay for Life," Ron Melson. He told us that this year's edition will be Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7 at Flower City Park in Palmyra.

Ron told us that there are a number of teams that are part of the relay that stay together all year long, and have been together for several years. For those teams, fund raising for the American Cancer Society is a year-long mission.

The 2014 Marion County Relay for Life starts at 6 p.m. on the June 6 and runs through 2 a.m. on the June 7. Between now and then, there are informational meetings planned for those who still might want to organize a team.

Here's our conversation with Ron Melson: