As the fall weather brings cooler temperatures, the season is a popular time for local charity events. Here are a few to be on the lookout starting Friday.
Relay For Life of Williamsburg
Relay For Life of Williamsburg — in its 25th year of raising funds for the American Cancer Society — will take place Friday in the parking lot at Warhill High School.
The event, which runs from 5-10 p.m., will begin with a dove release and survivor dinner. Then, following the survivor/caregiver lap and bell ringing, the opening ceremony will start at 7 p.m. with a mascot lap and luminaria ceremony held afterward. The event will also include children’s activities, food trucks and live music.
For more information or to donate, visit relayforlife.org/williamsburgva or contact Mary Beth Taylor at 757-343-0832 or marybeth.taylor@cancer.org.
2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s-Williamsburg
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place Saturday at the New Town gazebo, 5150 Main St., in James City County.
A “Promise Garden” ceremony will precede the walk at 9:40 a.m. During the ceremony, participants get to choose flowers representing their connection with the disease: Blue represents someone living with the disease, purple for those who lost someone to it, yellow for those currently caring or supporting someone with Alzheimer’s and orange to show support for the cause.
The walk will begin at 10 a.m. The route will be 3 miles long with a 1-mile option included. Pets are welcome.
All proceeds raised will go toward the Alzheimer’s Association to provide support for those with the disease as well as research efforts to find a cure. Last year’s walk raised more than $221,000 from more than 650 participants, according to Barbara Monteith, senior development manager for the walk’s Southeastern Virginia chapter. This year’s goal is $260,000 with 775 participants, she said.
“Money raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s makes a difference in the lives of those facing Alzheimer’s,” Monteith said.
For more information, to register or donate, visit alz.org/sevawalks.
Williamsburg Senior Softball League fundraising game
The Williamsburg Senior Softball League will host its third fundraising softball game at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Kiwanis Park.
All monetary proceeds from the 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness/Benefit Game will go toward the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit established in 1992 to support those affected by breast cancer. Cash and check (made to the foundation) donations will be accepted at the game.
The Williamsburg Senior Softball League will host its 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness/Benefit Game on Sunday at Kiwanis Park. (Kevin Keister)
The friendly competition will be women vs. men, said WSSL spokeswoman Kathy Sprague. The game will be a tiebreaker: the men won the first year of the competition while the women won last year. Regardless of the outcome, the game will be filled with camaraderie as the league raises funds for the foundation, she said.
The field will be decorated with pink-colored bases and field lines by Williamsburg Parks & Recreation. Along with donation buckets, there will be snacks and a live auction during the game and in-between innings. Created and organized by women of the league, the first game raised nearly $5,000 while last year raised $7,500.
“There are so many people in our league that have been touched by all forms of cancer,” Sprague said. “We are just trying to help make breast cancer not one that anyone has to worry about anymore.”
A rain date is set for Nov. 2. For more information, visit wsslva.org/bcag.html.
James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com
https://www.dailypress.com/2025/10/22/this-weekend-brings-charity-events-to-the-williamsburg-area/
