This has been an unbelievable experience as we have seen so many community groups rise to the challenge of bringing back the American Cancer Society's signature event and put our wonderful village back on the map again. With Carol & David Nelson as Honorary Co-Chairs and Kim Duchossois challenging us with a matching grant , we have a recipe for success to become one of the best Relay events in the state again! Here are some of the highlights:

 

We have a new survivor dinner reception that will be held at 5PM at our stadium. Look for invitations around town and please RSVP. Gale Gand, a celebrity chef and partner from TRU Restaurant in Chicago will be making a special dessert and have an informative for survivors. Gale will be selling signed copies of her cookbooks to benefit the American Cancer Society that night too.

Plans are underway to set a world record with 15,000 cupcakes being displayed on a special tower donated and built by Jim Leopardo of LEOPARDO Construction Company. Please sign up a team to raise funds and bake cupcakes for this exciting accomplishment. All cupcakes will be sold to raise funds that night or donated to several food banks. We have a another special guest singing and kicking off the Relay event. Herb Porter, survivor, ACS National Spokesman on televised birthday commercials, and local jazz singer will be coming to Barrington to give us a treat as he warms our hearts with a tribute song at 6PM. Herb will then lead off the Survivor lap around the track! Keep watching those ACS commercials and you will spot this handsome gentleman blowing out all the candles at the end!

Throughout the evening and into the night there will be fun kid and adult activities being planned and organized. We are now up to 102 teams and our next team Captain meeting will be Tuesday May 10th 6-7PM Barrington High School in the GRC. Please make sure to attend as we will be assigning team locations and finalizing all details. This is going to be a night to remember as we celebrate Barrington's Biggest Birthday Party on our beautiful community stadium!!!!

  

Other excitement is building around Barrington as we paint the town "PURPLE". Participating merchants will be donating 10% of their sales during May to the American Cancer Society for the Relay for Life teams. Please shop at your local merchants enabling them to support this fantastic event. Just mention RFL and they will donate to this great cause, no coupons are needed. We now have "Barrington's Biggest Birthday Party" cupcake t-shirts available at Peter Daniel in the Ice House, SweetPea Cakes, Millrose Restaurant in South Barrington, and Kernel Fabyan's in Deer Park. Shirts are only $10.00 with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

PURPLE wrist bands will be sold to support this event and raise funds and keep the PURPLE buzz going throughout our entire area. The RFL will be a fabulous way to start our summer celebration as school is ending and students can earn community service while donating and participating in such a great cause to CELEBRATE, give HOPE, and FIGHT BACK to find a CURE!

  

Other fun things happening on June 10th......you can honor your loved one with a dedicated song by making a donation to ACS and we will play that song in honor or memory of them during the event. There is also an all-star lineup of local talent being put together to entertain everyone all night long. There will be a fabulous "TAKE A CHANCE! SILENT AUCTION/RAFFLE" to include wine baskets, trips, sports tickets to bid on too! You can make a difference by purchasing a raffle ticket or auction item. Keep in mind that 92 cents of every dollar you spend will be used for research, prevention, patient support and detection/treatment of cancer. All forms of payments....cash, check, or charge will be accepted.

  

The 10PM Luminaria Ceremony will give you an opportunity to remember and honor your loved ones as this part of the evening is led by a bagpiper around the track. Luminaria can be purchased on our website or at local merchants around Barrington. If interested, pitch a tent and stay for the entire night.

How can you be part of this blockbuster event? It is SO easy! Make a donation. Create a team. Join a team. Buy a t-shirt and purple wristband in town. Volunteer at the event. Buy a luminaria, sponsor a song in honor or memory of someone. Attend the survivor Dinner Reception held at 5PM. Walk the Caregiver Lap. Just spread the word. No one will want to be left out of this record setting event!

Please visit us on Facebook and

www.relayforlifebarrington.com  

or call Sara at 847-368-1166. Make a difference. Help the world celebrate more birthdays. See you at the track! (one more thing, wear purple!) And don't forget FIDO.....Bark For LIfe will be held on August 7th with more information to follow later!