Entertainers Orv’s Avenue will entertain again this year at the Relay for Life Friday, June 11. Members of the band are, from left, Erik Nelson, Andrew Nelson and Logan Swendsrud. (Submitted photo) Staples and Motley residents will kick off the 13th Annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 11, at the track and field area west of the Staples Elementary School.

Teams are still welcome to join the relay. Call Barb Peterson at 218-894-2627 or Wendy Holub at 218-32-6365 for information and to register.

Luminaries are available from team members and also can be purchased at the track Friday.

Pre-program activities include filling and placing the luminaires on the track, walking the track, games, silent and live auction, food and survivors registration. Survivors are asked to wear the ribbon they received at the survivors dinner to receive a free meal.

Music will begin at 5 p.m. with Katie Ziegler and her guitar. At 6 p.m. the local band “Orv’s Avenue” will preform. The musicians and singers are Logan Swendsrud, Erik Nelson and Andrew Nelson.

“These young musicians were a crowd pleaser at last year’s relay,” said Peterson.

Throughout the evening, D.J. Jim Opelia will have his Rock and Roll fantasy” providing the entertainment.

The prog ram will include:

o Welcome by Wendy Holub, chair of the relay.

o Reading of the Relay For Life oath by Kate Sleinbach, ACS staff.

o The color guard will present the flag.

o Katie Zeigler will sing the National Anthem followed by the blessing of survivors and caregivers by Reverend Greg Ciesluk.

o The introduction of survivors and the survivors lap.

o The silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The live auction by Auctioneer Walt Trantina at 8 p.m. will feature a baseball autographed by Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins. A large nmber of blankets and quilts are on the auction including a Minnesota Timberwolves fleece blanket and a “I Love My John Deere” quilt in pink.

o Several games and activities will be available for only 25¢ each.

o The survivor honorary speaker is Donna Nadeau.

o The Lighting of the Luminaries will begin at dusk, about 9:15 p.m. The honorary torch bearers are the Fritz Hoemberg family and the Donna Nadeau family and friends.

o Teams camp out at the local elementary track throughout the night taking turns walking because cancer never sleeps.

o Raffle drawings, entertainment and music are scheduled throughout the night for all the team members.

o Sunrise ceremony concludes the activities at approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 12.

Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, those who face cancer will be supported and that one day cancer will be eliminated.

The public is encouraged to participate.