People hold hands during the survivor’s walk during this year’s Marshall County Relay For Life. The Marshall County Relay For Life was recently named the American Cancer Society’s Northeast Region Relay for Life Event of the Year for 2025. (File Photo)

Marshall County Relay For Life has been named the American Cancer Society’s Northeast Region Relay for Life Event of the Year for 2025.

Karen Coffield, a longtime volunteer with the Marshall County Relay For Life, said she nominated the local event because of the extraordinary efforts the participants and volunteers undertook to put on this year’s relay.

She said that, with little notice, the relay had to be moved indoors because of an incoming rainstorm. It typically is held at the John Marshall High School north parking lot.

“We’re really excited,” Coffield said of the recognition. “It was the first relay I have ever seen like that. I wrote the nomination. My intent was to share how we had to overcome adversity with this. … They all deserve it. This bunch of volunteers are incredible. They always step up.”

The event was moved to the John Marshall High School fieldhouse. It would have been held at JM’s gym, but that space was being repainted. In addition to the volunteers, the relay received help from the school district’s janitors moving tables and with cleanup afterward, she said.

The relay annually receives help from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and Marshall County Commission.

The relay surpassed its fundraising goal of $52,000. Also significant was that there were more teams, more luminaries and a luncheon for survivors.

“We had a lot of community sponsors and went in with $40,000 already earned from sponsors and team fundraising,” she said. “People came out and donated as well.”

During the relay, 900 luminaries were set up in the gym containing electric candles for safety. In the middle several luminaries spelled out the word “hope.”

“It’s to remember the folks who have passed and honor those who have survived,” she said. “It was really impressive with people walking through the letters of ‘hope.'”

Coffield, who has been with the relay group for more than 20 years, said the relay is an important event for the ACS and community.

“We raise funds for research for cancer patients. Most of it goes to research and some money goes toward prevention and education and some patient assistance. It comes back to our people with better and new treatments,” she said.

The goal, she noted, is to “give cancer patients more birthdays.”

Coffield noted the group likes to do other community projects. For example, volunteers met recently to fill Christmas stockings for local cancer patients going through treatment with puzzle books, lip balm, port pillows, candy, pens, eye glass cleaners and more.

Coffield said next year’s relay is set for 5 p.m. May 29 at JMHS’s north parking lot. Chairwomen for the event are Trish Weinschenker and Bonnie Wendt. The theme will be “Carnival for a Cure.” To register, visit secureevents@relayforlife/marshallwv.org, the group’s Facebook page “Relay For Life Marshall County WV,” or by calling Coffield at 304-780-9864.