Ready for another Relay
WAYNESBURG — The organizers and coordinators who have devoted countless hours, days, weeks and month preparing for the 2011 American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Greene County are rarin’ to go for this year’s event, and they are ready to prove that the number 13 is indeed a lucky number.
?The 2011 Relay, which will be held April 30-May 1 at the Waynesburg Central High School Raider Field of Pride, will be celebrating its 13th year of fighting to find a cure for cancer.
For the past 12 years, the local Relay initiative has been one of the area’s most successful and longest-running fundraising traditions. The Relay has raised a total of more than $1 million in donations from Greene County, and that number continues to climb. In fact, last year’s Relay raised a total of approximately $167,000, the highest total thus far in the local Relay’s history.
Shannon Wallace, the event’s chairperson, said everyone involved with this year’s Relay is expecting that level of commitment to continue in 2011.
“We are very proud that Greene County continues to support this worthwhile cause year in and year out,” said Wallace, a two-time cancer survivor who has been in remission since 2004. “I feel that Greene County strongly supports the Relay because they believe in the cause, because they know that cancer impacts everyone. We are very proud of the many county residents who volunteer and participate in the Relay, and they should be very proud of themselves.”
The goal set for the 2011 Relay is $180,000, a mark that Wallace believes can be realistically reached.
Wallace recently provided the Messenger with information regarding this years’ Relay. Registration for this year’s event will once again begin at 9?a.m., followed by the opening ceremony at 10?a.m. For the 10th consecutive year, WTAE news anchor Andrew Stockey will serve as the Relay’s master of ceremonies.
After the opening ceremony, cancer survivors will be invited to participate in the traditional survivors’ lap. During last year’s Relay, there were more than 100 cancer survivors who participated in the lap.
This year’s Relay will also once again feature teams setting up tents around the track, as well as the “Fight Back” ceremony, in which participants will be encouraged to sign a pledge to help in the ongoing fight against cancer. This year, the “Fight Back” ceremony — which will be combined with the ACS Can campaign — will begin at 6:30?p.m.
And all throughout the event, there will be a wide array of family-oriented activities, sporting events, contests, dances, receptions, and live music performances.
The Relay always features a theme, and this year it will be “Don’t Pass Go Until We Find A Cure.”
Wallace said the day-long event will feature a nonstop schedule of entertainment, including performances by Wallace, Greene Valley Church of God’s youth drama group known as “Fireproof,” and Chrissy Lahew, as well as disc jockeys, karaoke by John Buchanan, children’s games by Greene County Family Stability, a Midnight Marathon, the traditional Relay Queen contest, and more.
The event will also feature “Games 4 U,” an indoor and outdoor interactive video game center.
The evening’s activities will include the traditional luminaria ceremony, which will feature special music and the reading of names displayed on the luminaria bags in honor of those who have fought cancer. For the second consecutive year, luminaria sales will be credited to teams and will count toward team goals.
The event will conclude once again with a Sunday morning sunrise service.
Wallace emphasized the following important updates regarding this year’s event:
• Relay representatives are asking for donations of 8- to 13-ounce food cans that will be used to weigh down the luminaries instead of sand. Cans may be brought to the Relay before 6?p.m. The collected cans will be taken to Corner Cupboard Food Bank.
• Cancer survivors attending the Relay are invited to participate in the tent judging contest; those interested may pick up a judging sheet at the survivor’s reception.
Meanwhile, the community continues to hold unique Relay fundraising initiatives on their own. For example, a group of cancer survivors will once again participate in the annual “Rockin’ Relay” at the Rolling Meadows Nursing Facility. This year’s event has been scheduled for Friday, April 29 from 9?a.m. to 4?p.m. For the seventh consecutive year, the residents will take turns rocking in chairs at the facility and taking pledges. There will be a Chinese auction, a bake sale and music.
Several successful Relay fundraisers took place earlier this year, including Waynesburg University’s “Mini-Relay For Life, Chris Hardie’s “Chris Cross the County” event, and Southwest Regional Medical Center’s “Duck Race 2011.”
The fourth annual Mini-Relay was held on April 17.
The Mini-Relay is an event where students, faculty and local residents came together to walk laps, partake in the luminaria ceremony, enjoy music from karaoke singers and live bands, and participate in a number of fundraising activities.
This year, 42 teams participated in the event, an increase of five teams from the 2010 Mini-Relay.
Kelley Hardie, Waynesburg University’s director of housing, assistant director of student activities and adviser of “Colleges Against Cancer,” said the event was very successful.
“It was wonderful to see the commitment and passion from the entire campus for a truly remarkable charity event,” she said.
Kelley Hardie added that she is confident the event will reach and exceed the total goal of raising $18,000 for cancer research.
Despite the gloomy weather, close to 1,000 people participated in the event, displaying the dedication of university students, faculty and staff, and the local community.
“Chris Cross the County” was another successful Relay fundraising initiative. Chris Hardie, a Greene County employee and Waynesburg University head cross country and assistant track coach, ran 105 miles across the county earlier this year during a four-day span, for his fifth annual cancer research fundraiser.
On Feb. 25, Chris Hardie began the first of his four marathons in Waynesburg and continued the following day at Ryerson Station State Park.
The challenge took him to the Greene River Trail on the third day and concluded at Wana B Park in Carmichaels.
The initiative raised over $2,000.
SRMC held its fourth annual “Duck Race” on April 17, and the event was a huge success, raising over $10,000 for Relay for Life. Participants were asked to bring a rubber duck that was “adopted” from SRMC to Crawford Field, where they were released into the stream.
The first duck to paddle across the finish line won $100, the second duck $50, the third duck $25 and the duck in last place received $25.
First place was won by Charlie Auge, second place went to Caleb Courtwright; third place went to EMS Southwest, who donated the winnings back to the Relay; and last place honors went to Melissa Six.
Meanwhile, a number of businesses, organizations and individuals representing many Relay teams have also been holding their own successful Relay fundraisers throughout the past year.
Another ongoing successful Relay fundraising initiative this year is the ACS “Paint the Town Purple” sponsor banner campaign.
More than 120 banners are now being displayed throughout the county, representing the support of the local business community as well as banners honoring loved ones who are battling cancer or who have passed away from the disease.
The banners will be taken down on April 29 and will be hung around the bleachers at the WCHS field for the entire Relay.
Wallace commended Elizabeth Menhart and Linda Arbogast for their hard work and dedication in procuring the banners, as well as the Waynesburg Borough Maintenance Department, the Franklin and Perry Township supervisors, and Carmichaels Fire Department for their willingness to hang the banners.
For more information about the 13th annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Greene County, visit www.relayforlife.org/pagreenecounty, or call Wallace at 724-833-4690, or Margie Smith, senior community income development representative for the American Cancer Society, at 1-888-227-5445, ext.1059.