Kinnegad gets ready for first Relay for Life 24-hour event
Preparations are well advanced and excitement is building in Kinnegad ahead of the Relay for Life event on Saturday 20 August and Sunday 21 at Coralstown Kinnegad GAA Club.
Relay for Life is an community celebration which honours cancer survivors, their families and friends, and this is the first one in Westmeath.
Teams of 10 to 15 take part in the event, and all funds raised go to the Irish Cancer Society.
Because cancer never sleeps, teams are asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the 24-hour event. When not on track, team members socialise, play games, enjoy 24-hour entertainment and participate in lots of fun activities.
The event starts with the Survivors’ Lap at 3pm on Saturday, when cancer survivors of all ages walk, led by the Army Band, and cheered on by family, friends, and the teams.
Later in the evening, the Candle of Hope ceremony takes place as darkness begins to fall (around 9pm), when Micheala Hogg will perform. Before the event everyone in the community is invited to dedicate a Candle of Hope to someone they know who has been touched by cancer. As sunset approaches, the candles are set around the track and lit by participants. (Bags of candles will be available for purchase on the day.)
There will be loads to do during the 24 hours, from games such as throw the wellie to guess the number of sweets in the jar or balloons in a car, raffle, BBQ, facepainting, a book fair, a shop, jersey stall...
On the music front, lined up to perform are Kinnegad singing duo Colette Brady and David McEvoy; Darragh Dalton from Kinnegad with his band-mates in Madra; Sarah Jane's School of Irish Dance; the Celtic Blondes; Courtney Callaghan from Kinnegad; Just Flynn from Mullingar, who is travelling over from his London base; Double Up; Stephen Lynam, Kinnegad, Mark Hickey, Colette McCormack, Aaron Rigney (DJ) – and more.
Enda Leonard of EL Fitness will be leading a workout at 10am on the Sunday, to get everyone wide awake and ready for the second day.
Everyone is invited to drop in and see how things are going between 3pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday.
• To find out more, contact the Kinnegad Relay For life committee members: Elaine Goggins 087 8236673; Terry Baker 087 6476579; Feargal Delaney 086 3379178.