40th annual Bell County Relay for Life set for May 3

April 17, 2025

By David Stone

The Belton Journal

The 40th anniversary of Bell County’s Relay for Life will be Saturday, May 3, at the Cadence Bank Center’s Exposition Hall in Belton.

Set up for this year’s event will start at 8 a.m. that day, and the actual Relay will be from noon until midnight.

According to organizer Amy Jones, more than 500 participants and 33 teams are expected for this year’s local Relay.

“The theme for this year’s Bell County Relay for Life is, Make Cancer Extinct,” Jones said. “Last year we had nearly 500 people participate, and we are hoping to beat that number this year.”

Since 1985, communities across the world have come together to honor and remember loved ones and raise money for cancer research. Relay for Life Events are held globally.

Participants take turns walking a track lined with luminary bags in honor of those who have passed from cancer as well as those who have survived.

According to Jones, a vendor market will be set up from noon until 7 p.m. 

The market will feature many items for sale, and booth rental fees go into the event proceeds. All money raised during Relay for Life go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research and related programs.

A lap for cancer survivors will be held at 5:30 p.m., and the lighting of the luminary bags begins at 8 p.m. Closing ceremonies will begin at 11:30 p.m.

“The participating teams will each have a food item to sell,” Jones said. “Chick Fil A is donating some food, and teams will have egg rolls, snow cones and other food items.

“All the money goes to our Relay for Life.”