ROCKWELL CITY — The Calhoun County Relay For Life Committee will hold the American Cancer Society’s 2019 Relay for Life at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Calhoun County Courthouse Square in Rockwell City.

This year’s Relay For Life features a superhero theme with the slogan “Heroes of Hope!” Family-friendly entertainment and activities will take place during the evening, including inflatables, sidewalk chalk, music, a variety of food vendors, and dance performances. Containers will be placed around the event to collect pop tabs to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in honor of Jacy McAlexander.

The evening will celebrate the Heroes of Hope — cancer survivors — with their own hero lap and Survivors Ceremony. The Luminaria Ceremony will take place at dusk to honor the heroes who continue to fight cancer and remember those who have lost their battle and can no longer answer the hero signals.

New this year will be themed laps and a contest for the best decorated “hero hideout” team area, with prizes awarded throughout the night. Also new is a live auction and silent “secret identity” silent auction for various items to help raise additional money for the overall event.

Similar to the previous two years, Relay For Life participants will walk their laps around the Courthouse square, with vendors, activities, and teams set up on the lawn and the street areas, which will be closed off to vehicle traffic.

“We are so excited for the themed laps and the prizes,” said Joleen Schmit, chair of this year’s Relay For Life of Calhoun County leadership committee. “We encourage teams to start planning now to bring costumes, capes, or anything that brings out their inner ‘superhero’. Some of our planning committee are already looking for capes to wear. Also, the team with the best decorated hero-themed area will win a prize, plus bragging rights.”

“With more than 17,700 people in Iowa being diagnosed with cancer in the last year and approximately 300 Calhoun County residents currently fighting cancer, we all know a hero among us who has or is currently battling cancer,” said Tom Blomberg, senior manager, Community Development with American Cancer Society, who is working with Calhoun County in planning the event. “Relay For Life gives everyone in the local communities the opportunity to raise funds to help the American Cancer Society provide free information and support, educate people on how to reduce their risk for cancer or detect it early, and fund cancer research to help protect future generations. As a result, more than 14.5 million cancer survivors will celebrate birthdays this year.”

Participants and teams should register online at www.relayforlife.org/calhouncountyia. Fundraising can be done directly on the website, which helps to encourage online donations from friends and relatives outside the area. If teams cannot register online, they need to contact Schmit to ensure space is reserved for them on the lawn area. Bank night will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday at First Community Bank in Rockwell City.

Event sponsorships are available by contacting Toni Kerns at 712-297-5731. Luminaria forms are available in various locations around Calhoun County and will be posted on the group’s Facebook page, printed in local newspaper publications, and available at the Relay For Life event.

For more information about the event, contact the Calhoun County Chairperson, Joleen Schmit at 712-297-8323, Ext. 237, or the American Cancer Society staff partner, Tom Blomberg at 712-299-6729.

For event updates and additional information, like and follow the Calhoun County Relay for Life Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RelayForLifeCalhounCountyIowa.