Cancer survivors took the first lap around Civitan Park last year during Washington County’s 31st Relay for Life event. Individuals were lined up in order of the year they beat cancer. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

BELPRE – The Relay for Life of Washington County returns to Civitan Park in Belpre Saturday with the theme “Carnival for a Cure.”

In addition to the usual Survivor and Caregiver Dinner, music, auction and luminaria, the event will include some carnival touches like funhouse mirrors in the Survivor Tent, face-painting, balloon animals and a dilly dunker featuring some physicians from Marietta Memorial Hospital, said Rhonda Blair, chairwoman of the event.

“We’re calling it Dunk a Doc,” she said.

Planned for 3-5 and 6-8 p.m., the dilly dunker is one of many fundraisers for the event as a whole as well as among the teams who will be set up at the park. Money raised at Relay goes to support cancer research and families and individuals impacted by cancer.

The biggest fundraiser is the auction, which will take place at 5:45 p.m. Saturday at the park’s gazebo.

The survivors tent at Washington County’s 31st Relay For Life event in May 2025 at Civitan Park had items for survivors to collect. One of these items was Relay For Life purple pillows. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Blair has been a volunteer with Relay for 28 years. She got started because she knew people who had cancer and recognized risk factors among some of her family members. It became even more personal when her father was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003 and passed away the following year.

“That’s kind of why I kept doing it,” she said.

Blair said one of her favorite parts of the event is seeing cancer survivors wearing their medals, to which a star pin is added each year.

“It is a lot of work being on the committee, but it all pays off the day of, when you see the survivors come,” she said.

The Survivor and Caregiver Dinner at 4 p.m. in Shelter 1 will feature food from Qdoba and dessert from Whit’s Frozen Custard. There will also be food trucks for attendees, something the committee decided to bring back after a couple of years.

Among many of the tents spread out on the park lawn at Belpre Civitan Park during last year’s Washington County Relay For Life event was the survivors tent, which featured items from the sponsors for survivors to take home afterward. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

A dozen Relay teams are signed up for the event, but Blair noted the activities are open to all.

“Just come and show up and participate in the fun,” she said.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

Cancer survivors at Washington County’s 31st Relay For Life event in May 2025 lined the steps of the gazebo at Belpre Civitan Park for group photos and recognition. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The sidewalks of Belpre Civitan Park were lined with the names of cancer survivors and sponsors for Washington County’s 31st Relay For Life event last year. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Tents lined Belpre Civitan Park last May during the 31st Relay For Life of Washington County. The lawn was packed with supporting community members and company sponsors. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Mother, wife and cancer survivor Alisha Wright spoke at Civitan Park during last year's Relay For Life event, during which she shared her personal experience with beating cancer. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The community gathered at Civitan Park in May 2025 for Washington County’s 31st Relay For Life event. (Photo by Amber Phipps)