With the American Cancer Society Relay For Life less than a month away, the 38 local Relay teams are in high gear for fundraising, while the RFL committee is planning a plethora of crowd-pleasing events for the May 8-9 event.

Among upcoming fundraisers are the re-scheduled Harleys’ Angels Poker Run April 25 and their King of the Grill Contest and Benefit Bash set for May 2 at the Butler County Fairgrounds.

The Roping Wranglers presents the Wrangler 2009 Pageant at the Professional Mean’s Community Center on April 18. On that same date, Crowne Health Care’s team will present a Gospel Extravaganza at 3 p.m. at Call to Life Worship Center. Antioch East Baptist Church will hold a Relay Concert on 6:30 p.m., April 19 at the church, and Comfort Care Hospice is selling boxed lunches from Emily’s Café as a fundraiser on April 21. The Butler County Farmers Federation Women’s committee RFL team will hold a giant yard sale on May 2 on Oliver St.

“Our teams have been really working hard. They have already raised a lot of money and they are still raising it,” said RFL chair Galahad Smith.

At this month’s Team meeting, Team captains got a chance to look over the tentative events and activities agenda put together by Activities chair Gerri McGinnis.

Bingo, dominoes and a mechanical bull riding contest; a “Cooking for a Cure” Contest with judges performing blind taste tests; “Ms.” Relay Womanless Pageant; Children’s Chicken Chase; live music by Birmingham musician James Taylor; Locks of Love haircuts on stage; ski walk; hula hoop contest; Relay Idol; Unusual Talent Contest; karaoke; a pancake eating contest, and several children’s activities are all planned for the course of the evening and early morning hours.

McGinnis is looking for additional people to serve as judges for some of the late night/early morning contests.

“We hope a few teams will hang in there with us throughout the night and join me for those pancakes and sausage at 4 a.m.,” Smith said.

In addition, the forms for luminarias for cancer patients and caregivers and the Torches of Hope are now running in The Greenville Advocate. Luminaria chair Ethelyn Watson reported Starla Jones will be singing for the Relay Luminaria Ceremony, with Chris Dunkin and Dorothy Brown serving as Torchbearers and the Antioch West Baptist Church Youth serving as candlelighters.

Over 200 invitations to the annual Survivors Luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. May 1 at the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church, went out this week.

The Butler County Relay For Life “Rustlin’ Up a Cure” is set to kick off at 6:15 p.m. Friday, May 8 at the Greenville YMCA, with closing ceremonies set for 5 a.m. Saturday, May 9.

For more information, contact Galahad Smith at galahad@centurytel.net.