NORWICH — July 17 marks the last Norwich Relay for Life event. For their final year, committee members are planning to hold the sentimental Luminaria ceremony that has always been a part of Relay.

"At every event you can purchase these little bags, and they have candles in them, and you can decorate them however you want," said committee member Marie Loughren.

The Luminaria bags and ceremony have been a staple of Relay for Life since the very beginning, according to Loughren.

“There was always the opening ceremony, a Luminaria ceremony, and a closing ceremony. That was something Relay for Life nationwide kind of always did,” she said. “The Luminaria ceremony was something that was part of the event from the very beginning.”

The bags are meant as a way to honor those who have passed away from cancer, or to support those still battling the disease. Participants are welcome to decorate them however they wish, and they are often adorned with the names of loved ones who have battled, or are still battling, cancer.

"You can do them in honor of a survivor who's obviously still living, or in memory of someone who has passed. We do a ceremony. We personally read the names of all the people that we've lost," said Loughren. "I think that little ceremony is special to people."

During the Relay for Life event, after the sun goes down, the candles inside the bags will be lit.

"After dark, Relay participants share an emotional moment when each Luminaria is lit in remembrance of a life touched by cancer," said the Relay for Life website. "Together, we take a moment of silence to remember the loved ones they’re dedicated to. When you make a donation for a Luminaria it helps fund the American Cancer Society’s mission to help save lives."

Event Chairman Lynne Robertson said it is hard for her to imagine a person who hasn't been affected by the disease in some way, and that is why it is so important for fundraising to continue.

"Even if we stop the event, it doesn't mean that you can't do something and donate to the American Cancer Society," she said. "I cannot believe that there is somebody that hasn't been touched by cancer."

For many years, committee members have invited bagpiper Steve Cady to play a large role in the ceremony: performing before the names of those lost to cancer are read aloud.

“The bagpiper would play, and then once he’s done playing we have a list of all the in memory names,” said Loughren. “He’s been doing this for a long time. Somebody way back got somebody from the Binghamton area, and then we found Steve. Being local it was just awesome. It was nice to have a local person that was willing to do it for us.”

Cady will return this year for the final Norwich Relay for Life event.

Luminaria bags are ten dollars each when purchased through the American Cancer Society Relay for Life website. Loughren said when purchased locally, Luminaria bags are five dollars each.

Participants can purchase them through Facebook, by visiting East Park during the event on July 17, by contacting committee members or team captains, or by emailing relay.chenango@gmail.com.

Money raised from Luminaria sales will go toward funding cancer research and treatment.

Despite the Norwich Relay for Life coming to an end, there will still be fundraisers and ways to contribute to the cause through what the ACS calls Community Champions, according to Loughren.

“Community Champions will be within your community, whether it’s us doing a chicken barbecue, or Chenango Memorial Hospital who has a really active team still doing basket raffles up there. So we’re all still kind of fundraising for the cause,” she said.

To purchase a Luminaria or donate to the American Cancer Society, visit acsevents.org.