Today is Relay!

The sun is shining and relayers are making their final preparations for today's event. My house looks like a war zone with the various costumes for the themed laps. We're getting ready to combat each other for prizes, but the war is against cancer. It's a hard fight. We've lost some battles and have won others. We want more wins.

Cancer research saves lives. Every day at least 400 lives are saved from cancer thanks to cancer research. Every year, though, promising new research is left unfunded due to lack of funds. Together we can change this.

Have you or someone you know been affected by cancer? Come join us for a lap or two. We can't promise that we'll have the Bruins up on a jumbo screen, so come on down before the puck drops.

Entertainment is provided by Canobie Lake Park; their staff does an amazing job of bringing energy and lots of fun through various activities.

Opening ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m. Come cheer on cancer survivors as they walk the first lap; caregivers will join in on the second.

Get your [Bruins] game face on, literally! Chamillion Colors will be on the track at 5 p.m. Come on down and get your face painted while raising some money for the fight against cancer.

We heard that there's "something strange in the neighborhood," so the Ghostbusters will be there from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Come get your picture taken with the parapsychologists (aka slime-slayers).

You don't want to miss Justin Bieber impersonator Levi Mitchell, who takes the stage at 7:30.

At 9:00 p.m. silence will fall upon the track as we walk quietly to honor those who've won their battle and remember those who've lost. During this lap, votive candles are lit inside personalized bags to shine a light on the fight against cancer.

We thank the many citizens and businesses in and around Salem who help make this event successful.