July 10: Registration night for teams that wish to participate in the Relay for Life event, 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H building at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.
Aug. 4: Bank night, which is the last big money collector night.
Aug. 8: Relay for Life event, with opening ceremonies starting at 6 p.m. at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. Event goes overnight and into the following morning.

With the annual Freeborn County Relay for Life almost a month away, teams who would like to participate in the fundraiser for the American Cancer Society are asked to register for it July 10.

Registration is at the 4-H building at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds starting at 6:30 p.m.

Relay for Life team organizers Ryan and Jolean Shea and Tonia Palmer are encouraging groups of family, friends or co-workers to participate.

On registration night, a team captain will pay $10 for each member on the team, sign up for a time for a team photo and sign up for their team’s campsite.

“Everybody knows somebody with cancer,” Jolean said. “That alone gets people involved.”

Last year, organizers had a goal of gathering 50 teams. They ended up with 48.

This year, their goal is 55, and they will be sticking to strict American Cancer Society guidelines and allowing no more than 15 people on each team.

Relay For Life — a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs through the American Cancer Society — is designed so that teams of people gather at the fairgrounds and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.

At the start of the event, all cancer survivors take a lap around the fairgrounds, in what turns out to be an emotional point for all involved.

Jolean said 80 percent of the money that is raised stays in Freeborn County.

“The best thing we can do is raise money,” she said. “Someone you know, whether it be a friend or a relative, has cancer. We have to find a cure.”

The American Cancer Society recommends that each person who participates in the relay aim to raise $100. This can be done by simply selling 10 luminaries.

Of course, any amount that is raised is appreciated.

Between now and Aug. 4 teams will work to raise funds for the event in several different ways. Then, that night — bank night — all the money that has been raised will be turned in.

The actual event will be Aug. 8, with opening ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m.

If anyone has any questions about organizing a team, they can call Jolean at 318-9301.