SIDNEY—“There’s No Place Like Hope” when it comes to fighting cancer in Shelby County.

Relay for Life of Shelby County hopes to raise $140,000 at this years’ relay, to take place Friday, Aug. 2, starting at 6 p.m. with the opening ceremony at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. This year’s relay runs 18 hours and will come to a close Saturday, Aug. 3, at noon. The survivors lap will start at 6:15 p.m.

RLF co-leaders and team ambassadors Deb Kaufman and Patty Wood invite the community to come out and participate in the fight to end cancer.

“Everyone is affected by cancer — self, family member, co-worker, friend — everyone knows someone who has been diagnosed,” Kaufman said.

This year, 29 teams will be participating. Each team will decorate their campsite to fit the theme inspired by the Wizard of Oz: “There’s No Place Like Hope.” Teams will walk during relay to symolize the ongoing fight against cancer, and will participate in themed laps ranging from “following the yellow brick road” and costume themed laps where teams are invited to dress up as different “Oz” characters and channel their inner Glinda the Good Witch by dressing their prettiest. Participants in relay can donate by visiting each campsite and taking part in events held during the relay.

This year’s relay features a Car Show hosted by team Luke.5. Those wishing to participate can register on Saturday morning starting 7 a.m. Judging begins at 10am and winners will be announced following Saturday’s closing ceremonies at 11:30 a.m.

There will be a Music for the Cure contest sponsored by Wilson Health, with semi-finals will be held on Friday at 8 p.m. and finals on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Likewise, there will be arts & crafts, bingo, a frozen T-shirt contest, a lip sync contest, family feud, pop pong, a scavenger hunt, a Road to Recovery Race, as well as other games and events for the community to participate in. There will also be a baked goods auction including brownies, cookies, breads, cinnamon rolls, lemon pound cake, and other items, as well as a Saturday Morning Auction with items such as a Kane Brown autographed guitar, a piston signed by auto racer John Force, corn hole boards, a hand-made bench, an Airstream gift basket, a hot tub spa set, a Norcold refrigerator cooler, a Coach purse and sunglasses and more.

Food will be available and provided by the teams participating in relay.

“We celebrate with our survivors and remember our loved ones at Relay,” Kaufman said. “Anyone and everyone is invited to join us.”

For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/RelayForLifeOfShelbyCountyOH/.