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JACKSON – “Win Big! Beat Cancer!”

That’s the theme for this year’s Relay for Life event in Northampton County, which is scheduled to be held on Friday, May 19.

Though they had to take a break during the pandemic, Northampton County’s Relay event will be back in full swing this time. As in previous years, the festivities will be held at the Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center, 9536 NC Hwy 305, Jackson. It will kick off at 6 p.m. and run until midnight.

There will be fun for the whole family with kids’ games, music, line dancing, face painting, and a variety of food. In addition to the usual activities, this year’s Relay for Life event will also feature a car show and a basketball shootout.

The car show will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. with registration beginning at 5 p.m. There will be a $20 registration fee to participate.

The basketball shootout will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with registration beginning at 6 p.m. There will be a $5 registration fee. Competitors will face off in free throw shooting or three-point shooting.

Relay for Life is an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Proceeds go towards developing cancer treatments and prevention methods, such as chemotherapy, pap smears, and mammograms. The funds also help support services for families, such as lodgings for cancer patients and their families while undergoing treatment.

The event honors cancer survivors and caregivers, while also honoring the memory of loved ones who have passed away from the disease.

The first Relay for Life event was held in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington. Since then, the fundraiser has spread across the country and the globe, and is now one of the largest peer-to-peer fundraising events in the world.

For more information about Northampton County’s event, contact Laquitta (252-536-9706), Tammie (240-472-3340), or Patricia (252-578-4077). To register a team, call 1-800-227-2345 option 4.