Relay for Life ’25 set to celebrate, honor those battling cancer

The lights will be on. The food will be prepared. The games, activities and fun will be in place, and most importantly, the chance to step up and join in the fight against cancer will return.

After a near-decade hiatus, Holmes County Relay for Life will return, the date set for Saturday, Aug. 23 at West Holmes High School Stadium from 6 p.m. to midnight, the event recapturing all the beloved and special moments from Relay's past.

Event organizer Kaylea Kessinger fondly remembers those earlier days of walking the track, hanging out with friends until all hours of the night, and the mesmerizing glow of luminaria and everything else that went along with Holmes County Relay for Life.

Kessinger passionately pursued bringing Relay back to Holmes County, and for good reason. She was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. Her mother Angie Wigton was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Others she knows intimately have been diagnosed, so the threat of this diabolical disease is all too real in her life.

In addition, she knows nearly everyone has been touched by this heinous disease at some point, whether it be a spouse, grandparent, child, neighbor or friend, and thus, her desire to provide an opportunity for the community to unite in an evening of sharing, caring, compassion and love grew to the point where she felt a strong urge to bring Relay home to Holmes County.

Now everything is in place, from the moment the gates open at 4 p.m. to the Boy Scouts’ barbecue chicken dinner at 5 p.m. and the opening ceremonies that officially kick off the evening at 6 p.m. The teams are ready to walk, and the music, the emotions, the games and activities are in place.

All that is needed now is for the public to share in what should be a special moment.

“It’s finally here,” Kessinger said after several months of behind-the-scenes work that saw a small group of organizers dig in to get the event ready in a short time span. “I just want people to know they are all invited to come and share.”

When someone pours their heart and soul into something this big and important, there is always trepidation as to how many people will show up to support the cause.

Kessinger said she knows it may take time to climb back to the former heights, but step one is simply this year’s event, a new starting point to what she hopes will be an annual event that returns to the popularity it once held in the community’s collective heart.

The evening will include many of the old favorites including the luminaria event, for which luminarias are still available to purchase in honor or memory of loved ones. These glowing tributes will line the track for a special ceremony at dark.

After the introduction of the opening ceremony, which includes the national anthem and a prayer, the survivor, caregiver and team laps also will return.

While putting everything together was a major task for the event, what terrifies Kessinger the most is she will be the keynote speaker, sharing her story of her battle with cancer.

“I’m petrified,” Kessinger said. “I don’t like talking in front of people. I went to read my speech to a friend, which was my first time reading it out loud. I’m reading it and half crying then.”

However, she understands emotions and tears are part of the journey cancer brings whenever someone talks about it because it is a very personal and passionate story.

“I am actually excited to do this and proud to be able to do this,” she said, noting her story and the many others that will be shared throughout the night from personal battles are stories that need to be heard.

The band Tristan & the Dreamers will play as walkers walk laps from 6:30-8 p.m., with plenty of Spotify music taking over to keep the jams rolling after that.

The evening will include plenty of games, from face painting, sack races and cornhole to a water balloon fight and more.

“It’s gonna be a blast,” Kessinger said.

In addition, there will be Chinese raffle tickets sold for gift baskets and prizes along with a 50/50, both being available for purchase from 4-8:30 p.m., with the official drawings set for 8:45 p.m. Raffle tickets are 10 for $10, and participants can place their tickets into any of the raffle prize bags they choose.

Kessinger said the raffle prizes are amazing, noting the donations from the community have been incredible.

“Holmes County showed up,” she said, noting the number of raffle prizes could reach close to four dozen. “When there’s a need, Holmes County shows up.”

Holmes County showed up in preparation for the event. Now Kessinger is hoping they physically show up on game night, ready to celebrate and honor those battling cancer.

If any individuals or groups would like to volunteer, they can contact Kessinger on Facebook Messenger, text her at 330-600-7203, email her at k.kessinger95@gmail.com or visit www.cancer.org/involved/fundraise/relay-for-life.

Once there, click Join Relay for Life and then click the Join Relay icon and type in Holmes County.