WEST MILFORD — Another Relay for Life of the Highlands is in the books. And it was another to remember.
The event benefits the American Cancer Society and is held annually in many towns nationally and globally.
Relay started early this year, at 11 a.m., to encourage more family participation, and ended at 11 p.m. to eliminate overnight walking and camping. The participants packed a lot of fun into those 12 hours. There was a vendor and craft fair, a tricky tray and 50/50 raffle.
Theme laps around the track included the crazy hat lap, disco lap as participants did the YMCA around the track, happy birthday lap, dance lap, purple lap, bubble lap, patriotic lap and the fight back lap.
Midday, the Grasshopper Irish Pub provided a luncheon for the survivors.
As darkness fell, the luminaria ceremony was held. It is one of the more moving and visual parts of the event where 1,000 paper lantern bags with glow sticks line the track. The luminaria ceremony is a way for Relay for Life participants and donors to honor loved ones lost to cancer and also those battling the disease.
Food donations were gathered to weigh down the luminaria bags and later donated to local food pantries.
A success for sure - raising money for the American Cancer Society, honoring those affected by cancer, donating food to the food pantries, all while having fun.