Community members complete the first lap to commemorate Relay For Life 2026 on Saturday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG – Nearly 20 people gathered at Parkersburg City Park to walk the first lap of the year to kickoff Relay For Life 2026 on Saturday. The #RelayFirstLap campaign encouraged the community to join and commemorate the start of a new year and all of the upcoming fundraisers for the organization.

Despite the chilly air and intermittent rain, a few team representatives showed up for the occasion.

Event leader for the Parkersburg area, Jessica Ross said this is the fourth year they’ve held the event but the first year they had it at City Park.

“It’s not a really big event right now but it’s just a way to symbolize that we’re starting,” said Ross. “We’re going to have a larger event upcoming February 21.”

Ross said the main Relay For Life walking event will occur June 6 and they’re currently looking for volunteers and sponsors.

People smiling and laughing while completing the first lap of the start of Relay For Life 2026 on Saturday at Parkersburg City Park. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“When we started this the first time we only had about 10 people show up,” she said. “So this is our biggest year yet and an increase in attendance is always good.”

She said they’re planning lots of fundraisers over the course of a few months. The first lap event not only symbolizes the start of the fundraisers but it’s a way for the community to see and hear about upcoming events.

“Since the #RelayFirstLap is normally in January when we don’t have mild weather but it wasn’t too bad out so it’s nice to be able to come out here for this today,” she said.

There were a few team representatives present for the first lap on Saturday including Angie Burgy with Team Forever Young. She said there are about 20 individuals on their team whom many of are cancer survivors, including herself.

“I think this is my fourth year participating,” she said. “But we participate hard and our team does luncheons every month that we deliver out to the community.”

Nearly 20 people take one lap around the pond at Parkersburg City Park for #RelayFirstLap on Saturday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Team Forever Young is named in memory of Laurie Young who was a good friend of the team captain, said Burgy.

She said they have a lot of fundraisers throughout the year as well as three total Forever Young teams for different age groups.

Her favorite event is the main relay day and she said she enjoys seeing everyone gather for those going through, survived, or in memory of those who carried the burden of cancer.

“I wanted to come today because every journey starts with a step and today was the first step toward Relay For Life 2026,” said Burgy. “I’m sure when everybody received their cancer diagnosis they chose to fight, and that was the time they decided to take their first steps.”

Burgy said #RelayFirstLap is a symbolic day and very important for her personally. She said their teams have a lot of goals for the next few months especially after raising nearly $100,000 in funds for the organization last year.

Members of the community gather at Parkersburg City Park and pose for a photo before taking the first lap to symbolize the start of Relay For Life 2026 on Saturday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“We work hard,” she said.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/RelayForLifeWoodCountyWV/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/rflwoodcountywv

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com