For one night this summer, the people of Brighton will team up for the annual Brighton Relay for Life to help those who are fighting cancer. This year’s theme is “birthdays.”  

“We’re giving people hope that we’re working on creating more birthdays,” said Brighton Relay for Life publicity chair Kim Ayers. “It’s cool, it’s exciting.”

This year’s Brighton Relay for Life is set for July 9 and 10. For the third year in a row, the relay will be at the Brighton Recreation Center. Last year’s event raised nearly $90,000.

The community is invited to attend the kickoff party Thursday, Feb. 25, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brighton Recreation Center. Dessert will be served. Ayers encourages past relay team members and captains, as well as those possibly interested in starting or being on a team for this year’s event to come to Thursday’s meeting.

“It’s a huge event for this community and it grows every year,” she said.

For those who haven’t experienced the event in the past, Ayers describes what the relay is. The event begins on Friday evening, July 9, at 6 p.m. with introductions of staff members. Then the teams, many dressed in their own unique costumes, line up to be introduced. Next, cancer survivors are introduced and they and their caregivers have the opportunity to walk the first lap.

The relay begins. Team members take turns walking throughout the night until 8 a.m. Saturday. There are games, food and entertainment throughout the evening to keep the energy going, Ayers said.

There is typically a barbecue for dinner and walkers enjoy root beer floats at midnight. A special point in the evening is when the luminarias are lit. Supporters can buy one for $10 each and decorate them to honor a loved one affected by the disease.

Ayers encourages those who are curious about the event to stop by tomorrow’s meeting to find out what Relay is all about and how the event helps to raise funds to be put toward cancer research.

“We could have a cure within our lifetime and that gives us huge incentive to fight for that,” she said. “It’s rewarding to see the research that we have seen in the last 5 years, 10 years, 15 years. We’ve really had progress.”

Contact relay chairperson Missy Levario at 303-859-5954 or publicity chair Kim Ayers at 303-888-6553.