More about the Relay
I know I had plenty to say about the 2012 American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Greene County in last week’s column, but since that column was written I spoke with event chairperson Jacki Headlee, who provided me with even more info about this year’s Relay.
Due to deadline issues and space constraints, I wasn’t able to include this info in my column or in our front page coverage last week. But I wanted to mention it this week because I felt the info was important and I know Jacki really wanted to share it with our readers.
According to Jacki, the 2012 Relay was another successful event thanks to the teams, committees, business sponsors (who brought in over $60,000 in sponsorships this year), Central Greene School District, Greene County Career and Technology Center and the American Cancer Society Staff, to name just a few.
Jacki said she also appreciates the folks who were not on teams but walked laps to show their support.
“One example of that is a special young lady who had attended the Jefferson-Morgan High School prom,”Jacki said. “After the prom, she explained to her mother that she really wanted to go to Relay and walk at least one lap. So she came in her gown and flip flops. With umbrella in hand and her sister beside her helping to hold up her gown, together they made their laps.”
Jacki also praised the level of teamwork that is found everywhere at the event.
“The Relay really is a team effort,” she said. “An example of that is the week of Relay, we found out that the torch for the torch run is missing. So I called my friend Rob Barclay (a precision machining instructor at GCCTC) and he and his students manufactured a new torch in less than 24 hours, and it worked perfectly.”
The event did have some rain, but Mother Nature’s foul mood did little to dampen the spirits of those attending the Relay, Jacki said.
“We were very thankful that the rain held off for the opening ceremony, survivor reception and luminaria ceremony,” she said. “I think the rain can be symbolic of the trials that cancer patients experience. Just like some cancer patients have to take a rest while the ‘rain’ is coming down, so did some of our relayers. Yet every cancer patient’s journey is different and some, because of their situation, are forced to keep walking while it is “raining” down on them as did some of our relayers who kept walking in the rain. We relay for the survivors. We relay for the cure.”
She also shared the following tidbits of info: There were 125 cancer survivors attending the Relay as well as 18 survivors at Rockin’ Rolling Meadows Mini-Relay the day before the Relay; there were approximately 1,100 luminaria bags along the track that spelled the word “CURE” on the field during the luminaria ceremony; there were 26 teams that decorated their campsites to the theme “Relay TV-Tune in for the Cure”; the Spirit Baton winner was Team Pinelli, whose spirit baton/stick was a large toothbrush; and there were three winners for the campsite/tent judging contest: Amedysis (1st place); Greene County 4-H (2nd place) and Waynesburg Walmart (3rd place).
Jacki also provided info about a unique fundraising event that was held during the Relay.
“To raise awareness and need for volunteers for ‘Road to Recovery,’ a program of ACS in which volunteers provide transportation for cancer patients to their treatments, we held a ‘Box Car’ lap in which teams decorated their cars and collected money,” she said.
“The team who collected the most money for their box car during this lap was Team Giant Eagle.”
Finally, Jacki talked about an ongoing project that links the Relay with Facebook.
“There are lots of pictures on the Greene County Relay for Life Facebook page,” she said.
“In 2013, we will be fundraising by selling a 2013 Relay for Life calendar. Pictures of the 2012 Relay for Life (2012 only) can be submitted for consideration for this calendar.”
Jacki explained that submissions labeled with the person’s name and phone number can be dropped off in the “Relay for Life” mailbox inside Waynesburg Giant Eagle, where Relay Fundraising Chairperson Rachel Mitter works.
Once again, we here at the Messenger tip our hats to the many individuals, agencies, businesses, schools and organizations that helped make this year’s Relay a huge success.
For the second consecutive year, the event is going to raise well over $200,000 in donations and sponsorships, which is just absolutely incredible.
And the fundraising initiatives for this cause don’t stop there.
We received word that there are two upcoming events that are geared toward finding a cure for cancer.
The second annual “Cruisin’ for a Cure” Car Show will be held May 19 at the Greene County Airport in Waynesburg. This car cruise will benefit the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.
Registration begins at 10 a.m.
There is a $10 registration fee for vehicles.
All makes, models and years of cars, trucks, motorcycles and even tractors are welcome.
Each registrant receives a free event t-shirt. For more info, call Brenda Stone at 724-839-7080 or 724-998-4092, or Tom Ayres at 724-344-3545.
Also, I was told that the Central Greene School District will hold its annual Mini-Relay for Life on Friday, May 25 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Waynesburg Central High School Raider Field of Pride.
Look for more info about this event in next week’s Messenger…