Relay For Life blitz planned April 5 in Cherokee County

Cherokee County Relay For Life volunteers will be out in force on Saturday, April 5 conducting a number of fundraising events to benefit Relay For Life.

The weekend actually kicks off on Friday, April 4, with a hamburger cookout by the Life Savers team of Rusk State Hospital. They will prepare and grill their own burger meal with all the trimmings. The meal will also include chips and a dessert for $5. This event will be held behind the RSH Rehab Department from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, contact Diane Fields, Life Savers team captain at (903) 683-7559.

The Life Savers team will continue their fundraising efforts on Saturday, April 5, with a garage sale. This event will be held at 2112 Baylor Street in Jacksonville from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Adventures Club Relay For Life Team from Greg James Country Motors in Rusk will host a men's slow pitch softball tournament at the Jacksonville Baseball Complex on April 5. This is a double elimination tournament and will be conducted under ASA rules. Entry fee is $80 per team and registration will continue through March 28 or until all brackets are filled. T-shirts will be given for first and second place teams. Concessions will also be available. To register a team, contact Amy Derrington at (903) 683-2327 or (903) 683-2202.

The Trail to Christ Cowboy Church Relay For Life team from Jacksonville will sponsor the second annual Highway 69 Trail Ride "Packin' For The Cure" April 5.

Participants will assemble and register at the Tomato Bowl in downtown Jacksonville. The trail ride will go to Bullard. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the group will ride out at 10 a.m. sharp. Each rider (on horse or trailer) will pay a $5 donation to Relay For Life to participate in the trail ride. The "Trail Boss Lady" is Sharon Gates. For more information, she can be reached at (903) 894-7047 or (903) 521-8706.

Several Relay For Life teams from Rusk State Hospital have collaborated to have a "Family Day and Concert at the Lake" April 5. This event is open to the public and will be held at the RSH Lake directly across U.S. Highway 69 from the Rusk State Hospital. Times for this event are from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission of $5 for adults ages 13 and up and $3 for children ages 4-12 will be charged. Children three and under will be admitted free. Admission price will include a concert by local bands "The Papers" and "One Knee Falls." There will also be paddleboats, catch and release fishing (participants should bring their own fishing gear to participate in this event) and barge rides. There will also be a dunking booth and a fishing contest, both of which will require an extra charge that admission does not cover. A trophy will be awarded to the person who catches the biggest fish. Concessions will be available and those attending should bring lawn chairs. Patrons do not have to be state employees to attend this event, just be interested in a day of fun to benefit the Cherokee County Relay For Life. For more information regarding this event, contact Glenna Martin at (903) 253-3763.

The Cherokee County Relay For Life is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 25-26 at Mauldin Field on the campus of Jacksonville High School.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. on April 25 and end at 7 a.m. April 26.

For more information on this event contact Cynthia Kline, chairperson, at (903) 683-7483 or (903) 795-3604. Persons may email the Relay at cherokeerelayforlife@ yahoo.com or access the Relay website at www.events.cancer. org/rflcherokeecotx.