The Relay For Life of Newtown Planning Committee has announced that RFL-Newtown 2014 will return to Newtown High School this year.

In addition, there is a slight change to the date of the Relay, which was being planned for Friday, May 30.

“It was brought to the planning committee’s attention that Friday, May 30, 2014, is the date of the [Newtown High School] senior trip,” RFL-Newtown Planning Committee member Michelle Babyak said February 5. “The high school seniors, as are all Newtown students, are an important part of Relay, so in order to make sure they have the opportunity to participate, the Relay has been moved to Saturday and Sunday, May 31-June 1, 2014.”

The planning committee is also working on a day, date and time for its rescheduled kick-off. Planned for February 3, that event had to be postponed due to Monday’s snow.

“We will share that information as soon as we have it,” said Ms Babyak. “We will have a lot of information to share at the kick-off so please remember to get your team registered if you haven't done so already, and attend the kick-off to learn more about this great move.”

In honor of the community event’s tenth presentation year, the theme for the 2014 event is “Party.” Christopher Farrington is serving as the 2014 Event Chair. 

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. Since its inception in 2004, Newtown’s Relay For Life Event has raised more than $2.4 million and averages 580 registered participants each year.

Mr Farrington recently said that in 2014, he wants be sure that all local residents understand the Relay For Life is not a race or sporting event, but a community rally “where anyone touched by cancer, any family member, survivor, or caregiver can come and celebrate life, and support those engaged in the fight.”

At Relay, teams of people camp out and take turns walking or running around a track. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

While Newtown’s community event runs overnight, it is a 12-hour activity. Residents can learn more about the Tenth Relay, and keep tabs as new activities or related news developments are announced, on the local website or the Newtown Relay Facebook page.