OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) –Relay for Life of Venango County raised over $70,000.00 and counting since its 22nd annual event held on June 4, at Oil City High School.
Twenty-nine teams and 313 participants helped raise over $70,000.00 before and during the 24-hour event. Several teams will continue to donate money to Relay for Life through Golf Scramble events this summer. Donations will continue to be accepted for this year until August 31.
The 2016 theme of Relay for Life was “Wizard of Oz.” To reflect the theme during the Luminaria Ceremony, weighted, lit purple balloons floated around the football field while “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” played.
The survivor celebration included a new tradition of reading out survivors’ names along with the number of years they have been cancer-free.
The event also included food, games, and entertainment from the Oil City High School choir quartets and HOLeY JEANS, a local children’s choir.
Marie Costello, the American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life community manager, has worked with ACS for 14 years. In that time, she said she has seen the number of people who know someone with cancer rise significantly.
“For Venango County, like every other community that I work with, unfortunately, the issue of cancer is so prevalent,” Costello said.