VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach City Council is expected to proclaim April 13 and May 4 as “Relay Days” in the City of Vero Beach during the regular council meeting Tuesday, March 20, at 6 p.m. This proclamation will be presented to the volunteer event chairs. Andrea Smith, of Gould, Cooksey, Fennel is the Event Chair for Relay For Life of the Beaches. City Manager Jim O’Connor is Honorary Chair for Relay For Life of Indian River with Bridget Grall, of Treasure and Space Coast Radio as the Event Chair.
Following the presentation of the proclamation, Sandy Sauers and Ron Miller from the Spanish Lakes Relay team will share a special Relay story of friends who encouraged each other through their battles with cancer. Ron Miller tells what happened when suddenly neither of them was able to attend the Relay. His remembrance story was shared this past September at the statewide kick-off for more than 300 Relay For Life events.
He hopes to have Relay events across the country include this special gesture of remembrance as part of the Relay tradition.
Currently there are about 75 teams of volunteer between the two events, and another 28 in Sebastian. These teams of volunteers have been fundraising for months and will line the Relay tracks to “celebrate, remember, and fight back” with cancer patients from our community.
Relay For Life of the Beaches will be first on April 13 at Riverside Park. Then, on May 4, another set of teams will line the track at the Vero Beach High School Citrus Bowl.
At both events the opening ceremonies will be held at 6 p.m. and will be followed with cancer survivors taking the first official lap of the Relay. A reception will follow for the survivors and their caregivers.
The evenings will include music, games, food and fun. After the sun sets, luminary bags will be lit along the perimeter of the track and a ceremony of hope and remembrance begins.
Festivities will continue through the night with more activities scheduled for the morning. Closing ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m.
