Barrington's Relay For Life marking 20th anniversary

One of the longest-running suburban American Cancer Society fundraisers marks its 20th anniversary Saturday in Barrington.

Barrington's Relay For Life will add on to the roughly $4.8 million it has generated for the cancer society since inception. Saturday's relay and scores of other activities will be at Citizens Park, near Northwest Highway and Lake Zurich Road, instead of longtime venue Barrington High School.

Relay For Life co-chair Eleanor McDonnell said Friday that the shift to Citizens Park was done to celebrate the 20th anniversary.

"Citizens Park represents, in a lot of ways to the Barrington community, a lot of energy," McDonnell said outside the Jewel Tea Park Pavilion, where the relay's complimentary cancer survivor dinner will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday. "It's just an energy center for the community and also young families. It's another way to reach out to embrace the community a little more fully than maybe we have in the past."

In the Relay For Life, those who have fought cancer are honored, with survivors, their families and others gathering to walk, run and participate in other activities. Barrington's 20th anniversary relay will have much more than usual happening from 2 to 10 p.m.

Children with bicycles, wagons or ridable toys can decorate them and be in a purple parade contest offering prize. There also will be clinics from Barrington High School's soccer teams throughout the day, a silent auction, kids' games, the Bataille Academie of the Dance, music and a one-hour ceremony with Barrington Village President Karen Darch and others.

A luminaria ceremony with bagpipes and a special lap around Citizens Park's amphitheater will conclude the Relay For Life from 9 to 10 p.m.

Co-chair Mary Sneed said the strong support for the relay is reflective of the community's confidence the American Cancer Society is using the donated money properly.

"This is a family-friendly event," Sneed said, "and we want people of all ages, from zero to a hundred."

Barrington's Relay For Life started after about 200 residents were bused to Buffalo Grove High School to participate in that area's fundraiser in 1997. Organizers at the time said they'd be able to attract many more Barrington residents and collect at least $50,000 annually for cancer research.