Washington County Relay for Life is “Moo…vin’ for a Cure” with the return of their annual in-person event this Saturday.

The “moo…vin’” theme is inspired by the organization’s change of location from Washington Central Park to the Washington County Fairgrounds Cattle Barn. The daylong event will include a dessert auction, free kids games, cornhole tournament, a special volunteer recognition ceremony, presentations from local cancer researchers and physicians, luminaria ceremony, and music from local band Aces & Eights. Event Chair Deb Tisor says COVID-19 caused a significant reduction in research funds for the American Cancer Society, so with the return to in-person events she hopes the county can raise somewhere between $70,000-$80,000, “There are research grants at the University of Iowa Hospitals [and Clinics] and they were not cut yet, but if this year doesn’t prove to be as successful [of] a year in fundraising those funds are going to be cut and we’re still looking for cures for cancer. We are in desperate need to find some cures, 46 people a day in Iowa would be diagnosed with cancer this year. One is too many.”

A breakthrough in cancer research can take 10-20 years in the making, according to the American Cancer Society. Tisor invites the public to come bring their lawn chairs and help support Relay for Life’s fundraising for cancer research from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday.