Relay Raises More Than $142K For Cancer Society

The 11

Relay for Life is a community gathering where everyone can participate in the fight against cancer.

Churches, businesses, and other organizations form teams to help raise money and the relays are held overnight, up to 24 hours in length.

This year’s event kicked off with KLTV Channel 7 news anchor Dana Hughey giving the opening remarks for the event. She also introduced the Van Zandt County Relay for Life Chairman Kathy Baker.

David Crain gave the invocation, Boy Scout Troop 378 presented colors, followed by Courtney Robinson singing the National Anthem.

Robert McKinney, a surgeon with Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, placed medals around each survivor’s neck.

Each Relay for Life event has an opening lap around the track for the survivors, followed by a caregivers lap and then a lap dedicated to EMS, law enforcement and fire personnel.

The survivors’ lap was led by this year’s honorary chair, 6-year-old Leukemia survivor Jenna Lee of Canton.

Canton High School senior Laura Beth Shirey sang "I Hope You Dance," while the crowd cheered for the survivors around the track.

This year’s local chair, Baker, attended her first Relay in Wills Point in 2004, after being invited to attend the survivor activities by a friend.

"As a cancer survivor, I saw it as a great opportunity to give back. I personally benefited from research funded in part by the American Cancer Society, so helping raise money to further cancer research just made sense," Baker said. "The first time I made that lap with other Van Zandt County survivors as the crowd cheered us on was just so amazing. I cried the entire first lap as I walked arm in arm with my mother and my sister who are also cancer survivors. How could I not get involved after that?"

Because cancer never sleeps, one night a year is dedicated to no sleep, as people gathered to raise money for cancer awareness.

"As soon as one Relay ends, we being planning the next," Baker said. "I believe our first committee meeting was held in August, and I attended several training seminars prior to that."

This year’s goal was to raise $120,143, have 48 teams and 145 survivors, and that was surpassed.

"I cannot say enough about the teams that were involved in this year’s Relay," Baker said. "I have never seen such enthusiasm, both from returning and new Relayers. Although we have not got all the final tallies, it looks like several of our top fund-raising teams are new to Relay this year. I think they challenged us all to do better with their enthusiasm."

The Relay for Life was dedicated to the memory of 9-year-old Bobbie Rogers of Canton who lost her short battle with Leukemia.

Other local heroes honored were Suzanne Lindley of Canton, Sally Chitty of Grand Saline, Kyle Pennington of Van, Kitty White of Edgewood, and Molly Brittain of Wills Point.

There were 30 members on the Relay for Life committee, but the event was co-chaired by Summer Haltom.

"..I must mention my co-chair, Summer Haltom, who did an amazing job with anything and everything asked of her," Baker said. "She will be chairing next year’s Relay and will undoubtedly do a fantastic job."

"I cannot think of any other event in Van Zandt County that brings so many people of each community together to work as one for nearly a year planning an event attended by people from all over our county," Baker said. "The attendance estimates provided to me were that we had over 2,500 people at our Relay last Friday night. That is just phenomenal for a county our size, surpassing attendance of Relays in much larger counties and cities."

Plans have already started for next year and organizers are hoping for 20 more committee members next year than they had this year, Baker said.

A Relay for Life wrap-up party has been planned for Monday, May 21, at 7 p.m. at the Canton High School commons area to celebrate the success of the event and give individual and team awards.

That will also be the first opportunity for teams to sign up for next year’s event and the public is invited to attend the party.

Once a team is registered, they can officially begin raising funds.

Also the team registration fee is reduced to $25 for any team registered for the 2008 Relay at the wrap-up party.

For more information about participating in the 2008 Relay for Life contact Summer Haltom at (903) 570-2021 or Kathy Baker at (903) 570-8636.