RUMFORD — There was great weather for a great event as nine different teams participated Saturday in the River Valley Relay For Life at Hosmer Field.

A highlight for the one-day event was the arrival of the Ride For Life Bikers, greeted by applause as they rounded the track. After they parked, the riders stood by their bikes in honor of cancer survivors as they took the first lap.

There were 45 bikes this year, the most ever for this event.

Biker Dan Richard summed up the reason for the large turnout: “Cancer has touched every one of us one way or another,” he said. 

Following that lap, the survivors joined the bikers for a barbecue, sponsored in part by the Rumford Hospital.

The theme of this year’s event was Relay Around the World. Teams chose famous cities to decorate their tent sites and also had goodies that represent that city.

Luminaries honoring those who have survived or lost their battle with cancer were on sale all day at the field. In the evening, a luminary ceremony was held and names of those taken by cancer were read over the PA system, while people walked around the track, reading the names written on the candlelit bags.

This is part of the world’s largest fundraising event to end cancer, which has raised more than $5 billion.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net