Annual ACS fundraiser May 2-3
WAYNESBURG – The 2009 American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Greene County will be held this weekend, May 2-3, at the Waynesburg Central High School Raider Field of Pride, celebrating its 11th year of fighting to find a cure for cancer. Though most people look at the Relay as a fun-filled and emotional 24-hour event, in reality the Relay is an event that takes place all year long. The Relay takes much planning to get all of the components in place to hold the event. The location has to be verified; new and unique fundraising ideas must be found; a sound system, tents, chairs, and many other props need to be located. Then there is the responsibility of scheduling all of the non-stop entertainment and activities throughout the event. And so much more.
Coordinating the annual Relay is most certainly a huge undertaking. But despite the hassles and hectic schedules, each May – like clockwork – the Relay continues to take place in Greene County. Through the hard work of many dedicated volunteers, all of these facets are ready to roll when the opening ceremony begins and the first steps are taken during the traditional cancer survivors’ lap.
More often than not, these volunteers have a personal story to tell about how cancer has affected their lives. It is the driving force for the majority of those who make the Relay a reality and a success.
Mary Ann Dispenza of the Greene County Relay for Life Team is one such person. Dispenza is serving her first year as a team co-captain and part of the coordinators of the Relay. Three years ago in August, Dispenza lost her brother, Bob “Luther” Moore, to cancer.
“Everyone knows someone who has been directly affected by it. They know someone who has a family member who battled it or lost that battle,” Dispenza said. “It didn’t hit me hard until I lost my brother to it.”
Although Dispenza had taken part in the Relay in the past as a participant, after losing her brother the event took on new meaning for her. As an insider of the planning process, she said she is amazed by the work that is done behind the scenes.
“It is all ongoing and how much work people put into it amazes me. Everybody just comes together for every little aspect,” she said.
Dispenza said she is awed by the efforts of her own “Greene County” Team. They have volunteers who will cover all 24 hours at the 2009 Relay, according to Dispenza.
“I think that speaks volumes for the county employees,” she said.
As the goal of the Relay for Life is to raise funds, one mustn’t forget the fundraising activities that are held year-round by both teams and hard-working individuals.
There are spaghetti dinners, holiday raffles, sports raffles, duck races, marathons, motorcycle rallies, a Waynesburg University Mini-Relay and many other fund raising efforts leading up to the actual event.
As personal fundraising efforts go, there is one that has stood out for the past three years. “Chris Cross the County” has made headline news for the Greene County Relay and has raised close to $20,000 total.
Others joining Hardie in the personal fundraising category this year are teen singer-songwriter Jackson Gardner and Relay entertainment chair Shannon Wallace. Both are using their vocal talents with proceeds going to the Relay. Gardner is holding a concert, titled “Live and Loud,” on May 1 at 7 p.m. in the Waynesburg Central High School auditorium. The cost of admission is $8, with all proceeds going to the Greene County Relay.
Wallace, a two-time cancer survivor herself, has been in remission since 2004. In 2008 she heard about the Greene County Relay for the first time and knew that she had to be a part. Her father, Harold Harvey, is also a cancer survivor. Last year she and her father walked the survivor’s lap together.
She was so moved by the event and sharing that moment with her father that Wallace began work on a CD to raise funds for the Relay. The CD, titled “H.O.P.E.: Help Open People’s Eyes,” is filled with the inspirational songs that helped Shannon through her cancer treatments. The cost of the CD is $8 and can be obtained locally at Rohanna’s Restaurant, Rep. H. William DeWeese’s Waynesburg office, the Greene County Parks and Recreation Office, LaDana’s Unlimited Hair and Nail Salon, and Sylvia Brioli’s Hair Salon. It can also be purchased by visiting Wallace’s website at www.hopeforacure.net.
The commitment of people like Wallace reaffirms what Margie Smith, community income development specialist with the American Cancer Society previously told the Messenger, “It is a massive amount of work behind the scenes, from tents, program books, t-shirts, the lugging and driving…we get a lot of cooperation from people,” Smith said. “There is such a cooperative spirit here (in Greene County). I wish I could bottle it up and take it everywhere and say, ‘these are the ingredients for a successful Relay for Life.'”
The 2009 Greene County Relay for Life begins on May 2 at 8 a.m. The opening ceremony – led by Master of Ceremonies Andrew Stockey of WTAE-TV – and survivors’ lap will start at 10 a.m. Closing ceremonies will take place on May 3 at 7 a.m.
The second annual “Fight Back” ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. on May 2 with a “Pack the Track” effort. Organizers of this ceremony are hoping to get as many people as possible out to walk on the track beginning at 7 p.m.
The 24-hour event will also feature a Luminaria Ceremony at 9 p.m., as well as a karaoke contest, a “Family Fun Fest” and performances from a variety of local musicians and singers.
For more information about the Greene County Relay for Life, contact chairperson Chris Hardie at 814-931-1250 or by e-mail at chardie@co.greene.pa.us.