Relay For Life of Huntley/Marengo to feature sports memorabilia for Cubs, Blackhawks and others

On June 3-4, the annual Relay For Life of Huntley-Marengo event will feature attendees walking throughout the evening and into the morning to raise money and awareness about a disease that has touched so many Americans. The event, now in its 18th year, begins at 6 p.m. Friday, and lasts until sunrise on Saturday morning.

To kick off the festivities, cancer survivors and others touched by cancer will pass forward a special commemorative baseball bat signed by Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (himself a cancer survivor).

This baseball bat will be carried along a special 2.2 mile route that begins at Haligus and Algonquin roads, then weaves west to Church Street and through downtown Main Street, to its conclusion at the entrance of the Huntley Park District entrance along Route 47, where a special opening ceremony will take place.

The relay walk will begin about 4:30 p.m. Friday, with the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. at the park district, 12015 Mill St.

"Every 1/10th mile along this 2-mile route, the bat will be handed off to another cancer survivor as we march forward with a determined commitment to make a statement about this horrible disease," said Kaitlin Thompson, community manager of Relay For Life. "Cancer has touched so many of us in our community, and our Relay For Life event is a way to symbolize that cancer does not sleep. We're hoping for a great turnout from area residents as we continue this challenge and fight against this horrible disease that affects so many of us."

This year, for the first time, Bob Ibach, a local Del Webb resident and former front office member of the Chicago Cubs organization, reached out to many of his sports industry contacts to arrange two fundraising raffles. The raffles will feature several pieces of historic sports memorabilia, including a very special Chicago Blackhawks hockey stick signed by all members of the 2016-17 team, along with a certificate of authenticity. Raffle tickets for this item are priced at $10 per ticket and are being sold throughout May and up until the 10 p.m. drawing on June 3. Winners do not have to be in attendance.

A second raffle is also being conducted, with tickets priced at three chances for $10 and eight chances for $25. The items in this raffle include:

• A four-ball Chicago Cubs World Series commemorative set with a display case that salutes the Cubs three World Series titles won in 1907, 1908 and of course 2016, along with a Wrigley Field history baseball;

• A 2017 commemorative Super Bowl football for the New England Patriots, and another Super Bowl football for their opponent, the Atlanta Falcons;

• Two 2017 NCAA Final Four basketballs, one for South Carolina and the other for the eventual champion North Carolina;

• Two box seat tickets in Row 1 to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, donated by special Cubs season ticket holder known as The Pink Hat Guy; also box seat tickets to a White Sox game and box seat tickets to a Brewers game in Milwaukee;

• A NCAA title game football for 2017 champion Clemson;

• A NCAA title game football for runner-up Alabama;

• A framed item that salutes the 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series championship;

• A framed LeBron James basketball item to commemorate his 2009 MVP award;

• A limited edition 18- x 24-inch aerial photograph taken last October above Wrigley Field by celebrated sports photographer Mike Gustafson.

Monies raised from the two raffles, along with other donations taken in from local sponsors and members of the community, will allow the American Cancer Society to help the community support free education programs to learn about cancer prevention and early detection. It also supports free programs and services for cancer patients and local families. The American Cancer Society has funded more than $23 million in research grants in Illinois, and is the 2nd highest governmental funder of cancer research in the United States, supporting cancer issues at the local, state and federal government levels.

During the past 17 years, the Relay For Life event has raised $698,656.

At the Relay For Life, there will be a celebration of all those individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer - our survivors. Those members and their caretakers are invited to attend the complimentary "Survivor Dinner" before the 6 p.m. opening ceremony on June 3, and to walk in the first lap of the event, entitled the Survivor Lap.

Also that same evening, the Luminaria Ceremony will offer people to remember and honor those who have lost a loved one to cancer. Luminaria bags can be purchased in honor or in memory of those who have or are battling cancer. As individuals walk around the track at the park district throughout the evening and into the morning hours, the luminaria line the track to serve as a constant reminder of the purpose behind the Relay For Life. Luminarias can be purchased as a $10 donation and can serve as a fundraiser for those participating in the event. Order a luminaria online by 5 p.m. Thursday, June 1, or at the event.

For more information to register as a survivor or participant, and to purchase a Luminaria, visit www.relayforlife.org/huntleyil. For more information about the event, purchasing a raffle ticket or sponsoring a banner at the event, contact Kaitlin Thompson at (404) 653-8019 or at kaitlin.thompson@cancer.org.