Rhonda Blair, left, and her daughter Samantha Williams are shown at the 2022 Relay for Life of Washington County. Blair is the event lead for the 2025 Relay on Saturday. (File Photo)

BELPRE — The Relay for Life of Washington County will celebrate four decades of fighting cancer on Saturday.

The theme of this year’s event, slated for 3-10 p.m. Saturday at Civitan Park in Belpre, is “40 Years Moving Toward a Cancer-Free Tomorrow.”

Event lead Rhonda Blair has been involved with the Relay for 27 years, starting when she was in her 20s and concerned because there were so many smokers in her family.

“And then five years later, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer and he was gone within a year,” she said.

It’s his memory that has kept her participating, Blair said.

“It’s (cancer) just something I feel like touches everybody at some point,” she said.

There will be music at Saturday’s event provided by High Schools that Rock, the band Cold Shot and DJ Rockin’ Rick MusicWorks, along with some additional entertainment.

“We’re doing a talent show this year,” Blair said, noting it’s been 15 or so years since that was part of the Relay lineup. “We’re trying to bring that back. It was a lot of fun, and people really liked it.”

Blair said a variety of performances could be included.

“Anything that’s tasteful, cause it’s, you know, like a family event,” she said.

Other activities include a pair of cake walks, a live auction of donated baskets filled with various items and a children’s tractor pull.

Qdoba will provide the food for the survivors dinner at 4 p.m., with dessert from Whits Frozen Custard.

The luminaria service is set for 8:45 p.m. People can still purchase a luminary in honor of a loved one online at relayforlife.org/washingtoncounty today or at the event.

More than a dozen teams have registered for the event, but Blair said people don’t have to be a member to participate in the Relay.

“You can just come on down and attend, see what it’s all about,” she said. “The teams will have fundraisers at their sites.”

***

2025 Relay for Life of Washington County schedule

* 3 p.m.: Event kickoff, food trucks, team sites ready, High Schools that Rock, walking laps begin at the gazebo, survivor registration, check-in opens

* 4 p.m.: DJ Rockin’ Ranger Rick MusicWorks, Cake Walk, gazebo; Survivor Caregiver Dinner at Shelter 1

* 5 p.m.: Opening ceremonies, gazebo; group photos; survivor and caregiver first lap

* 5:45 p.m.: Live auction, gazebo

* 6 p.m.: Kiddie Tractor Pull, driveway

* 6:30 p.m.: Talent Show, gazebo

* 7 p.m.: Cake Walk #2, gazebo

* 7:30 p.m.: Cold Shot band, gazebo

* 8:45 p.m.: Luminaria Service with Silent Lap

* 9:30 p.m.: Closing Ceremony/Last Lap