Relay for Life ran it’s course in Taylor until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the New Century Club of Taylor found a new path to walk with the same mission.
The second annual Luminaries on the Square will be held Friday, April 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Heritage Square. The event is co-sponsored by Immanuel Lutheran Church.
“Once the formal Relay for Life event here in Taylor ended, and we experienced the isolation o the pandemic ... the (New Century Club) felt the void,” said club member Darlene Rydell. “This was one of our goals and purposes, to support the American Cancer Society, and it was gone.”
Thus, the birth of Luminaries on the Square.
“As part of the Relay for Life event, you have the luminaria bags ... you can do it in honor of somebody who has fought cancer and they are a survivor, or in memory of somebody you have lost to cancer,” said Stacy Rhinehart, Century Club coordinator through the American Cancer Society. “It’s a way to remember those folks.”
Rydell explained that in the past, the Century Club supported the American Cancer Society through funds collected from the sale of luminaries at Relay for Life. The club still supported few families each year, however, the members wanted another way to honor those who are survivors, caregivers or lost their fight to cancer.
“Everybody has lost somebody to cancer, and even after all of these years, it’s still hard,” Rydell said emotionally.
During Relay for Life, luminaries were lined up along the track with candles lit in the evening for a special ceremony.
“It’s always been my favorite part of Relay (for Life), so to do it kind of on its own, is really special,” Rhinehart said.
During Luminaries on the Square, from 8 to 9 p.m., all attention will be directed to the luminaria ceremony.
“It’s a quiet, reflective time,” Rhinehart said. “We’ll have some poems and things like that, and then walking around looking at the luminaries.”
The longest living survivor will then lead a walk around the path where the luminaries are set up. Last year, Irene Michna led the walk.
In it’s first year, the event featured live music and entertainment, along with food and a walk around the park led by cancer survivors.
This year, there will be another element added to entice guests to attend.
From 6 to 7 p.m., games, including bean bags toss and corn hole, will be available to accompany live entertainment by St. Mary’s Catholic School students. Hilltop Springs from Immanuel Lutheran Church will also perform on stage. Scott and Gloria Morales will have chopped beef sandwiches available for sale.
“This is not something we can stop doing,” Rhinehart added. “It’s something we feel very important about, and we want to keep it alive, even if it is a small part.”
Luminaries on the Square is open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit in the park.
“The New Century Club of Taylor is dedicated to intellectual development and service to others by aiding the American Cancer Society,” Rydell said. “We encourage the community to come out and join us in honoring and remembering.”
