With less than a week to go until the Freeborn County Relay for Life, organizers are busy making last-minute preparations and encouraging everyone who can to come out to the event, which will begin at 6 p.m. Friday.

“Everyone knows somebody who’s been touched by cancer one way or another,” said Chairwoman Nikki Schumaker. “We’re all in it for the same reason — to fight cancer.”

The relay’s opening ceremonies kick off from 6 to 7 p.m. with speeches from this year’s honorary co-chairwoman Amy Wasson and co-chairman Chris Utz, along with honorary caregiver Beth Manges.

Albert Lea Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer will have his head shaved at that time after he promised he would do so if 50 teams registered for the relay. As of press time, there were 59 teams registered.

The opening ceremonies will also be the time for the survivor’s walk, during which anyone who currently has or who has at any time had cancer takes the first lap around the gravel track at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. Survivors who have not registered can still do so the night of the event.

After the survivor walk, people from all of the teams will take turns walking through the night and into the next morning.

The silent auction, which features many different items such as bikes, guitars and theme park tickets, to name a few, will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

From 6 to 7 p.m. people can buy a chance to win substantial gas cards, and then from 6 to 9 p.m. will be the kiddie carnival.

There will be food available, including Bruno’s corn dogs, Jake’s Pizza, Casa Zamora and Blondie’s baskets.

Live entertainment will go from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., starting with the band Flashback. From 9 to 9:45 p.m. there will be the luminary lighting with a special luminary ceremony. From 9:45 to 10:30 p.m. Jordon Elleby will perform, and then from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. Ben Olson will be on the stage. There will be karaoke from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and a DJ will fill in the remainder of time.

Schumaker said she wanted to thank all of the relay’s sponsors and the community for all its support.

“We wouldn’t have this event if it wasn’t for our community,” Schumaker said.

As of Friday morning, there were 312 survivors on their list, she said. This is almost 100 more than last year’s total.

She wanted to make sure everyone knows the public is welcome at the relay and that people don’t have to be on a team or be a survivor to come out to the event.

As this is her last year as chairwoman of the relay, Schumaker said she is anticipating Friday and Saturday to be an emotional time for her.

“I just think this is going to be outstanding,” she said.

In the future, she will still be involved with the relay but more on a team level.