Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Relay For Life is finally back in Jessamine County, thanks to a local family seeking to celebrate and honor local cancer survivors.

Becky Moore Ogden and her son, Trevor, have had quite the year.

At the end of 2022, the Ogdens discovered that Trevor had lung cancer after being admitted to the ER for suspected pneumonia.

Trevor has been on medicinal treatment ever since, and Becky said he’s doing wonderfully.

“He’s living life as normal, I guess. He is working full time, taking trips. He’s got a girlfriend and is exploring life with her. That’s pretty recent. So, he’s doing great. Cancer is still responding very well to treatment. He’s got a scan coming up in a couple of weeks and a visit with the doctor to check on things, but he’s doing great,” she said.

In March of last year, Ogden began searching for Relay for Life events in the county. She remembered there one when her father and father-in-law had cancer. But, as she looked this year, she didn’t find one in the area.

“There were a couple in some surrounding counties, but I didn’t want to go to another county. I wanted to participate here. I contacted the American Cancer Society, which helped me get started. I put it out on social media- stating that I wanted to do it. Some ladies contacted me, and we formed a committee, and we’ve been planning ever since,” Ogden said.

Although she’s excited for the Saturday, Oct. 21 event, It hasn’t been a walk in the park for Ogden and the rest of the committee.

“It’s been a lot of hard work. I had no idea what I was taking on cause I had never planned anything like this before, and it has gotten quite overwhelming. But the ladies I’ve got helping me have been amazing and have taken on a lot of the work, and we’ve got a great event planned, for sure,” Ogden said.

The event will be at the Jessamine Career and Technology Center on 851 Wilmore Road.

The event will be kicked off with a Crusin’ for Cancer Car Show on Friday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Trevor is passionate about cars, so he’s particularly excited about this part of the event. Princesses will also be present at the car show. Cinderella, the Ice Queen, the Bayou Princess, and Hermana Mariposa will hold a meet and greet with photo opportunities.

Goodies will be sold at the event for princess fans. For $2, you can purchase a keepsake bottle of fairy dust; for $5, you can see the coronation ceremony, and you’ll receive a crown and a certificate. For $8, you can see the coronation ceremony, and you’ll receive an upgraded crown and certificate. Cash is preferred, but Venmo and PayPal will be accepted.

The Relay for Life event will be held from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day. All sorts of family-friendly activities will also be going on throughout the night.

“I think a lot of people maybe forgot about it or just assumed it wasn’t happening anymore, but I’ve also encountered a lot of people, a lot of businesses too that used to be involved in the past that are excited to come back and be able to participate again. I’m glad to offer the community something that brought everybody together in the past. Hopefully, we can rebuild it to be bigger and better than it was.

It’s not too late to sign up to create a team for the event. Individuals interested in going can also just show up. “You don’t have to be part of a team to participate. We want anybody and everybody to participate, come out, and be part of it and honor and celebrate and recognize those who are fighting now and who have fought this disease in the past,” Ogden said.

The Jessamine Fall Festival organizers had to reschedule it to the same weekend, but Ogden still hopes the relay and the car show will have a good turnout.

“I have definitely had times of discouragement, you know, when we get a ‘no, we don’t want to donate,’ or ‘no, we don’t want to participate.’ but overall, I think I have to keep in my mind that anything that we’re able to raise for the American Cancer Society is good. I’m just trying to keep a positive mindset about the day and believe it will be a good day regardless of how many people are there or what we didn’t accomplish. I feel pretty good most days. Like I said, it doesn’t come without its lows, but it will be a good day. We truly do believe that,” she said.

Trevor is also very excited about the event, according to Ogden.

“He seems very excited about it but has informed me that he will in no way be speaking in front of people that day in any form or fashion. I think it’s all new territory for him. I don’t think he’s even heard of this event before this. He’s excited to participate and is trying to get his friends and everyone involved. I think it will be a huge learning experience and humbling experience for him, and I look forward to that for him,” Ogden said.

All money raised from this event will go straight to the American Cancer Society to fund their resources for cancer survivors, such as housing for those traveling for treatment, transportation, and cancer research.

There will also be a survivors’ dinner at 4 p.m. for anyone who has beat cancer or is currently fighting.

Ogden is also still looking for silent auction donations. The auction will be held throughout the night, and she asks for any items, large or small, gift baskets, and gift cards.

The event also needs a lot more volunteers to help it run smoothly.

For any interested in the dinner, donating to the auction, becoming a volunteer, or with any questions, contact Ogden at beckyo@bhcfamily.com.

For more information or to sign up or donate, head to the website at https://secure.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=106788&pg=entry&fbclid=IwAR2imDHWek9vXirrseouZ3aymuF5clbMZFTlI1RxAlI6DUxgUBY_e2r-1DI.