Johnstown will host its fifth annual Relay For Life the weekend of July 27-28. The event originally was scheduled to take place June 22-23.

Johnstown Relay media chair Mary Wiswell said the event’s dates were changed because the Fireman’s Festival was set for the same weekend.

“We just felt like if we want people to come to Relay, we can’t compete with the Fireman’s Festival,” Wiswell said.

This year’s Relay theme is “Reach for the Stars … to Find a Cure!” Wiswell said the theme reflects the American Cancer Society’s commitment to honor cancer survivors.

There are currently 15 registered teams with 80 participants, Wiswell said. The Relay committee hopes to raise $45,000 through Relay this year, she said, and has a goal of registering 44 teams.

“The way the committee would like them to view it is get registered now and that just gives us an extra month to fundraise prior to the event,” Wiswell said. “Hopefully, that will help us reach the goal this year.”

Last year, Relay fell short of its $47,000 goal. Thirty-nine teams raised $40,000 in 2011.

Wiswell said Relay teams already have great fundraising ideas in the works to meet this year’s monetary goal. Fundraising events currently being planned include the first annual “Johnstown’s Got Talent.”

Relay team “Patch’s Purple People” is hosting the event and said it’s is open to all individuals ages 9-99 who’d like to take a shot at singing, dancing, juggling, or any other talent.
Wiswell said all audition applicants must pay a $5 fee, with all proceeds going to Relay. The deadline to apply is April 15. Those interested should email johnstownsgottalent@gmail.com or johnstownsgottalent@yahoo.com to request information about the talent
competition.

Other planned fundraising events include a murder mystery dinner. Team “Gas On It” will provide what it calls a unique and memorable experience on April 21. More details will come at a later date. Johnstown’s Relay will also host “Dancing with the Stars.” Wiswell said all cancer survivors are encouraged to be the “stars” of the night and enjoy an evening of dancing and celebrating cancer survivors. The event will be held at the Village Council Chambers, 599 S. Main St., on Saturday, April 28, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wiswell said the Relay committee is hosting the second annual “Relay on the Square” on May 11-12.

The community yard sale will be held at Bigelow Park. All proceeds will go to the Relay For Life of Johnstown.

Other nondated events include Flush Cancer. Team “Pink Crusaders” will place a purple toilet in the yard of the payer’s choice for $25. The “toilet victim” can pay to have the toilet removed or moved to another yard. Team “Hog Roast” is planning a pig roast in early summer, and team “Greg’s Gang” is holding a raffle for a handmade water well.

“We feel like there is some good quality teams out there that are really putting in a lot of thought into fundraising efforts and different out-of-the-box fundraisers, so we think that’s really going to help with the success of the whole event,”Wiswell said.

Event co-chair Beth Hann said those forming a Relay team, or who have any questions, should get in touch with Karen Robey, co-chair of team development, at krobey905@yahoo.com. Interested parties can also go to www.relayforlife.org/johnstown to register online.

Team meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the council chambers. The next meeting is March 1.