Once a year, the Butler County Fairgrounds becomes the equivalent of a small village for the American Cancer Society’s annual fundraiser, Relay for Life.

The entertainment-filled event, sponsored by Wal-Mart, Whitney National Bank, REF Alabama, Inc., Priester’s Pecan Co., Inc. and International Paper Company, kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 14.

Participants will walk and jog on an oval dirt track over several hours in support of finding a cure for cancer.

Teams this year include the Alabama Power Service Organization, Fort Dale Academy, Bill Campbell, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, International Paper, Brushey Creek Baptist Church, Bancorp South, R.L. Austin Elementary School, the Sandcutt Community, Peoples’ Bank, Greenville Jaycees, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, First Lowndes Bank, Damascus Baptist Church, Winn-Dixie, Greenville Motor Company, Camellia City Florist, Greenville Middle School, Butler County Optimist Club, L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital, Whitney National Bank, Wal-mart, Liberty National Insurance, ACC, District Attorney’s office, W.O. Parmer Elementary School, Hainje’s Furniture, Camellia Communications, Greenville High School and the Greenville Advocate.

Ralph Stacey will once more serve as the master of ceremonies for the entertainment portion of the event, ably assisted by DJ ‘Funky Frank’ (a.k.a. Frank Phelps).

There will be a cook-off, Hula Hoop contest, Mz. Relay Pageant, talent competition, karaoke sing-a-longs, dancing, ski walks and more to keep energetic folks going into the wee hours of Saturday morning.

The most popular event has to be the Mz. Relay womanless beauty pageant with a group of Greenville’s &uot;beauties&uot; strutting about on stage.

While many have great fun at the Relay, there will also be some solemn moments. At 9 p.m., those who have died will be remembered in the Luminary Ceremony. To buy a luminary, please see a Relay Committee member on arrival.

They are $5 each.

The luminaries will surround the track.

These are bags with candles inside, each candle representing a victim of cancer.

The Rev. Tim Patton of First Baptist Church and the Rev. Joel Snell of New Life Church will read out the names of people who lost the battle.

As Joan Reynolds said at the recent Survivor’s Luncheon, the job of putting together the Relay is filled by many.

&uot;No one person or small group could do all this,&uot; she said. Lt really does take the whole community.&uot;

Also, in today’s Greenville Advocate, please find our complete guide to the Relay For Life in a special section.

Included are the events schedule, committee members, and the platinum, gold, silver and bronze sponsors and much more.