BAY MINETTE, Alabama — The North Baldwin Relay for Life event will be held April 15 at Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to midnight in the school’s gymnasium.

Sixteen teams have been fund-raising for the cause and will be set up the night of to walk during the event because cancer never sleeps. 

This year’s theme is “Paint Your World Purple Because Cancer Knows No Borders.” Teams will fill the gym with purple and each team’s campsite will be decorated in different themes from around the world and even Neverland and Outerspace will be represented, organizers said.

Ashley Jones is marking her fourth year as a participate in Relay for Life and her third as chair of the North Baldwin event. “I’m always amazed at how this event comes together. We live in a community that like many others have been touched by cancer way too often. It’s great to see our community come alive and continue the fight against this disease,” Davis said.

Like many others, the fight hits close to home for Davis. “The American Cancer Society and Relay for Life events became near and dear to my heart after losing my best friend at age 27 to adrenal cancer, then my dad less than a year later at age 57 to pancreatic cancer,” Davis said. “I encourage everyone in the community to come and help us as we continue the fight against cancer. Every little bit helps and there will be great food and wonderful entertainment!”

The opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. and will include the annual Survivor Lap. This serves as a time to recognize and celebrate the survivors, who will take the first lap of the event. 

There will be food and games at the different campsites, the luminaria ceremony will take place at 9:15 p.m. This is time to remember those who have been lost to this disease and to honor those still fighting. Following the luminaria ceremony organizers will pump up the music and take part in a “Fight Back” lap to encourage everyone in the community to keep fighting.

For a little “fun”draising, there will also be a Womanless Beauty Pageant at 10 p.m. and the winner will be crowned Miss North Baldwin Relay and Miss Relay Diva. The crowd decides those winners through cash donations to each contestant and cheers. 

The closing ceremonies will take place beginning at 11 p.m. and teams will be recognized for their hard work in the fight against cancer. Awards will be presented for the Biggest Bank, Rookie of the Year, Taste of the World, Best Flag Pole, the Paint your World Purple Award and much more.

In addition to the night of Relay, organizers will hold its annual survivors’ dinner at 6 p.m. April 14 at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Bay Minette.

“We have a group of ladies who volunteer to host the dinner and they go above and beyond,” Davis said. “It is always a wonderful night complete with a full service dinner, guest speaker and so much more.”

If you are a local survivor and did not receive an invitation, call Trellis Thomaston at 251-295-0343 to reserve a seat.