(File photo) Participants begin lap two of the 30th anniversary Relay for Life of Wood County in July at Parkersburg City Park. The second lap is dedicated to the family and caregivers of cancer survivors.

PARKERSBURG — New activities for participants of all ages will be part of Saturday’s Relay for Life of Wood County at City Park.

“I feel like we have a lot more for kids to do this year,” said Jessica Ross, event lead for the annual Relay, which raises money for the American Cancer Society. “We have a rock wall from the National Guard, we have a petting zoo, characters that are going to be walking around, face painting and carnival games.”

The event has had inflatables and other offerings for youngsters in the past but not as much for teenagers, she said.

“So the rock wall will be great for teens and older children,” Ross said. “And who doesn’t like a petting zoo?”

The theme of this year’s event is Relay Carnival.

(File photo) Raylee Townsend poses for a picture on a giant inflatable chair in July at the 30th anniversary Relay for Life of Wood County in Parkersburg City Park. Townsend is a two-time cancer survivor and was crowned Survivor Miss Relay for the 2024 event.

“It opened up some creativity where we can have carnival games and we can have carnival foods,” Ross said.

There will also be a cookie trail, where attendees can pay a one-time fee to get a passport directing them to each participating campsite offering a different cookie. People can also try their luck at satisfying their sweet tooth with a cake walk.

Another highlight coming back this year is the Road to Recovery race at 7:15 p.m. It not only promotes the ACS program through which volunteers provide rides to treatment and doctor appointments, but gives participants a chance to be creative.

“They make little cardboard box cars that they can actually fit on them and race in,” Ross said. In keeping with the carnival them, “I know one of our teams is already making a Ferris wheel car.”

After silent auctions and country stores in years past, a live auction is planned for 6 p.m.

(File photo) The Parkersburg High School Naval Junior ROTC presents the colors during the 30th anniversary Relay for Life of Wood County in July at Parkersburg City Park.

The Relay is open to the public. Opening ceremonies are set for 5 p.m., with the first lap featuring cancer survivors planned for 5:30 p.m.

“I’m a breast cancer survivor of 27 years. I joined one of the local teams in Wirt County, and it’s been a big part of my life ever since,” Ross said.

Ross was eventually recruited to be a member of the planning team and then event lead for Wirt County’s Relay. When she moved to Wood County, she joined the Relay in Parkersburg and has been event lead for four years.

“I just want to give back,” Ross said. “I want to try to raise money to find a cure. I have a 19-year-old daughter, and I don’t want her to ever have to hear those words. … I just want to do what I can to eliminate cancer.”

This year’s Relay has a fundraising goal of $100,000, and Ross said teams have already logged nearly $76,000.

(File photo) Luminara bags line the pond at Parkersburg City Park during the 30th anniversary Relay For Life of Wood County in July. Thirty teams fought off the heat to participate in the 2024 event.

“I have no doubt that we will just surpass our goal this year,” she said. “I’m really excited about it.”

That money’s been raised through a variety of efforts like bingo, monthly lunches and the Slip Slop Slap two-mile race at City Park earlier this month, which promoted skin cancer awareness.

Fundraising will continue during Saturday’s Relay with raffles and more, as well as at other events this summer.

Wood County Relay for Life Schedule

PARKERSBURG – The Relay For Life of Wood County 2025 will be held Saturday in the pond area of City Park.

(File photo) Grand Marshal Patricia Goodwin leads the first lap during the 30th anniversary Relay for Life of Wood County event in July at Parkersburg City Park.

Saturday’s event schedule includes:

¯ 9 a.m. – Block off entrances/pool and tennis courts during setup

¯ 3 p.m. – Around pond and big shelter/walking track cleared of all vehicles; team check-in/setup begins (Information – big shelter, aka “The Midway”); auction item drop-off/check-in (On the Midway); survivor check-in begins (Information – The Midway); Road to Recovery Grand Prix check-in (Information – The Midway); ACS Cancer Action Network booth opens (The Midway)

¯ 5-5:30 p.m. – Opening ceremonies, stage; introductions and welcome; invocation by the Rev. Dwight Brohard, Vienna Baptist Church; flag presentation by Parkersburg High School Junior ROTC; national anthem by PHS Chamber Choir; opening remarks by event lead volunteer Jessica Ross

¯ 5:30-6 p.m. – Laps begin, stage to around the pond; first lap: cancer survivors; second lap: family and caregivers join survivors; third lap: everyone welcome to join in last lap with cancer survivors

(File photo) Carmen Hathaway, second from right, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society’s Northeast Region, welcomes people to the 2024 Relay for Life of Wood County in July.

¯ 5-7 p.m. – Car show by Tweedle – Washington Street entrance beside pond

¯ 6-6:45 p.m. – Live Auction – Stage; Road to Recovery Car Show and people’s choice voting – WV Monument

¯ 6-8 p.m. – Rock Wall, Army National Guard, and petting zoo, R&R Farms, in front of the cabin; costumed characters, in front of the cabin/walking around the event; face painting (The Midway)

¯ 6-9 p.m. – Team and survivor check-in resumes (Information – The Midway); cooling station (near Information – The Midway); phone charging station (Information – The Midway); Road to Recovery car check-in resumes (Information – The Midway); luminaria (luminaria shelter #7 at the pond); team campsite/booth fundraisers and food trucks open (times may vary per truck); Cake Walk, throughout the evening until gone (People’s Church team campsite)

¯ 6:45-7:15 p.m. – Road to Recovery Car Parade (around the pond, then around the event)

¯ 7-7:15 p.m. – Announcements

¯ 7:15-7:50 p.m. — Road to Recovery Grand Prix Race (in front of pond)

¯ 8-8:45 p.m. – Country Best in Class, live entertainment (stage)

¯ 8:30-8:40 p.m. – Last call to purchase 50/50 and raffle tickets; miscellaneous announcements

¯ 8:50-9:10 p.m. – Awards and drawing winners; last call to purchase luminaria bags; 50/50 drawing; team raffle drawings

¯ 9:15-9:30 p.m. – Henrie Lane, live entertainment (stage)

¯ 9:30-10 p.m. — Luminaria ceremony featuring Henrie Lane (stage and pond); organizers ask that participants show respect to those being honored and gather at the pond area rather than packing up and leaving during this time; Memory Walk/Lap toward the end of the ceremony

¯ 10 p.m. – Closing ceremonies, benediction (stage); team campsites may tear down