Due to COVID-19, many changes have been put in place this year to ensure a safe Relay For Life event this upcoming spring. On Wednesday, March 11, the American Cancer Society decided overnight events are too high-risk so this year’s relay has been shortened to six hours, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The event will still be taking place outside, just shortened to midnight. Social studies teacher Cory Wurtz shares more about what the event will look like this year. 

“Right now we are planning on holding the event outside, and if the weather moves us inside we will make that decision the week of as long as we get approval from the ACS that we can have an indoor event,” Wurtz explains. “The district has approved us for either; we are just waiting on ACS approval.”

Wurtz goes on to share how the COVID-19 safety procedures will remain. 

“There are a lot of things we’re going to do, social distancing, mask wearing, a lot of the things you would see on a normal school day,” Wurtz said. “We also are going to have a regular cleaning schedule and hand sanitizing stations.”

Wurtz also explains how social distancing will remain between the participants and the spectators.

“All participants, meaning our registered team members and their assigned chaperones will be allowed in the inner fence. All spectators will have to remain outside of that fence just like a soccer or football game is being played,” said Wurtz. “That is going to lessen the contact between those people. We will still have our on-site fundraisers; they will just be done over the fence with as minimal contact between the participants and spectators as possible.” 

Despite these changes, Wurtz still has a positive attitude as this year’s event draws closer

“Any money raised for cancer research is a positive. Whether we raise $20,000 or $50,000 doesn’t matter because it’s all for a positive,” says Wurtz.