The event is the culmination of months of work and dedication of volunteers to raise dollars for cancer research. The goal this year is a challenging $53,000. Monies raised stay in this area to help with all kinds of support and to fund cancer researchers as close as Notre Dame.
Luminaries are not only a fundraiser but a way of memorializing someone lost or honoring a brave survivor. They will circle the field culminating in the word “Hope” at the top of the hill. At 9 p.m., they’ll be changed “Cure.” A survivor lap begins after opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. The moving luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. will be followed by a survivor and caregiver lap.
It’s not too late to remember a friend or loved one. Mindy Keilman’s committee will be decorating the bags up until the lighting. A $5 donation is requested. It’s one of the most moving events of the evening. Youngsters at Menominee School spent an afternoon helping to decorate the bags.
Want to help out for a few hours? Volunteers are needed to help with food, kids’ games, filling luminaria bags with sand, silent auction, etc. Contributions to the silent auction will graciously be accepted at the event. Businesses have been most generous.        
But many members of the 30+ teams this year will walk. No matter the hour, someone will be circling the track.
“Cancer never stops, never sleeps, so for one night, we, too, keep going. We can show our strength to fight,” said Becky Mear, chair of the event and a survivor herself. Special laps are planned to spice things up. Crazy hats will be featured at the 7:30 p.m. lap and bubbles will be blowing for the 9 p.m. loop. New this year is a dance lap at 10 p.m. followed by a clown costume and faces parade at 10:30 p.m. The pajama lap at 11:30 p.m. is always something to behold with a bed head lap at 4 a.m.
Walkers will pass campsites decorated in a ‘Circus’ theme. Banners for the best dressed team and best decorated campsite, donated by Graphix Unlimited of Bremen, will be awarded at 9 p.m.
Kids activities will be ongoing throughout the night starting with dance lessons for the 8-12 year-old set and a Tae Kwan Do demonstration.
“Do we have to stay? Walk?” folks ask Mear. “No, just come for an hour of fun.” If you can’t do that, there are other ways to help.
Call Mear at 936-7204 for questions or donations.