Area Relay for Life canceled

The Relay for Life of North Central Montana, which was formed by the combination of the Hill County and Blaine County relays last year, was unexpectedly canceled this week.

The event, which has been held in Hill and Blaine counties for decades, is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the official website for Relay for Life says, and is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in thousands of communities and 27 countries.

The event typically includes speakers, a survivors lap for cancer survivors, luminaries and an all-night relay walk around a track. All money raised through the fundraiser goes to American Cancer Society for research and support of cancer victims.

The relay was supposed to be held Friday in Chinook, but Monday evening a post on the official Relay for Life of North Central Montana Facebook page said, “(Due) to circumstances beyond our control North Central Montana Relay For Life to be held in Chinook this year has been canceled.”

Calls to people who had been involved in the past were not returned.

When the Havre Daily News messaged the North Central Relay Facebook page asking for the contact information for a local organizer to find out details of the cancellation, a response of “(Due) to circumstances beyond our control it was canceled,” was given by someone who declined to give their name.

The person did message that the group plans to have the event next year, again combining Hill and Blaine counties.

As of Tuesday, the Relay For Life official website did not have any record of any event happening this year in Hill or Blaine County.

American Cancer Society Northern Region Communication Director Lisa Bade said the society appreciates the support for fighting cancer in the north-central Montana region.

“We are working to understand what happened,” she said, adding that the organization apologizes for the schedule change.

The society wants to thank the community for its interest in the event, Bade said.

Any community members who would like to discuss opportunities for future American Cancer Society events for the north-central Montana region can contact American Cancer Society Community Development Manager Kris Holmes at 406-201-6313 or [email protected], Bade added.