Relay For Life tops goal

Relay teams lined up for introductions as part of the opening ceremonies for the 16th edition of the Whitman County Relay for Life Friday and Saturday at the Colfax High School track. The relay this year had 19 teams entered with 16 active. The Peace Walkers held the lead in points at the end of tabulations. The teams were credited with raising over $51,000 to top the $47,000 goal to assist the American Cancer Society.

Opening ceremony scenes, clockwise below, include the Blue Mountain Troublemakers from Waitsburg who made a return appearance on the relay stage Friday. From the left are Zach Beasley, Austin Beasley, John Hockersmith and Mariah Bartlow.

Britain’s Royal family, center, found time to make a stop at the Colfax track Friday night courtesy of the Nolan Heating team.

Relay chair Brandy Wigen, at right, sang a solo during the opening ceremonies.

Relay walkers after dark, bottom left, toured the memorial luminaries which were placed along the track and on the grandstand. A total of 932 luminaries were sponsored as part of the fund raising effort.

Cancer survivors and caregivers, bottom right, finished their honor lap Friday at the start of the relay event. The two groups started in opposite directions, met on the back stretch and finished together.