The planning committee for the Relay For Life of Wetzel County thinks “A Cure Will Be Paradise” as they prepare for the big event to kick off Friday at 6 p.m. on the Magnolia High?School track.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Wetzel County will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and continue through 6 a.m. Saturday morning on the Magnolia High School track in New Martinsville.

With the theme of “A Cure Will Be Paradise”, the Hawaiian decor and accouterments are sure to be abundant at the event. The local committee has a goal of raising $100,000 through the event. So far collections are are the halfway mark.

Much of that money already raised is thanks to the schools in Wetzel County. Hundred High School, Long Drain School, Magnolia High School, New Martinsville School, Paden City Elementary School, Paden City High School, Short Line School, and Valley High School all participated in Relay this year.

In addition, teams have been working all year long by staging various events and fund raisers to help collect money to find a cure for cancer and support those who are battling the disease.

The fund raising doesn’t stop when the relay begins. Many groups continue their fund raising at the event by selling items and food, conducting games, and taking donations. There are also organized fund raisers such as the cake walk, purse auction, and Mr. Relay contest. So don’t forget to bring your wallet when you come to Relay.

While the event offers fun and community interaction, it is also a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. That serious side of Relay begins with the survivors reception, survivors lap, care givers lap, and culminates in the moving luminaria ceremony.

Relay For Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Wash., ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man’s passion to fight cancer into the world’s largest movement to end the disease.

For more information about the American Cancer Society or Relay For Life, call 1-800-227-2345, or visit cancer.org.

The schedule for this year’s Relay For Life events is listed below. The schedule is flexible and subject to change. Listen for announcements at the event.: 4-6 p.m., Set-up and Registration; 6:00 p.m., Survivor Reception; 6:30 p.m., Opening Ceremony; 6:45 p.m., First lap, survivors; second lap, care givers; third and following laps, everyone; 7:00 p.m., Silver Eagle Band; 8:00 p.m., Purse Auction; 9:00 p.m., Rob Campbell and Carla McBee; 9:30 p.m., Luminaria Ceremony; 10:00 p.m., Mr. Relay; 10:15 p.m., Ebert Brothers Band; Midnight, 100 Miles from Nowhere; 1:00 a.m., American Relay Idol; 2:00 a.m., Road to Recovery Wheelchair Race; 3:00 a.m., Karaoke Contest, music with Carman Harman; 4:00 a.m., Theme laps; 4:30 a.m., Fight Back Ceremony; 5:00 a.m., Sunrise Service, Awards, and Final Lap (everyone); 5:30 a.m., Breakfast; 6:00 a.m., Clean-up, everyone.