| Relay for Life a Big $uccess |
|
|
| Written by Scott Stockdale & Bill Tipple | |
| Friday, 20 June 2008 | |
|
The flatter track, intimate feel, and full kitchen on-site seemed to please the walkers and volunteers.
The local theme this year was "Through the Years" which complimented the national Relay for Life theme of "Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back." The co-chairpersons for the event were Penny Higgins and Marilyn Angelo. They said $156,000 was raised during the 18-hour event and more money will be collected throughout the weekend. Relay officials were confident they would surpass the goal of $158,000. (Audio interviews included.) Honorary co-chairs this year included Ohio Hi-Point Superintendent Kim Davis, Mike Beelman, and Penny Butts. All honorary co-chairs are cancer survivors. In addition to recognizing these cancer survivors, straw hats with a purple ribbon were presented to each survivor in an effort to raise melanoma awareness. Mrs. Butts, a West Liberty resident, marks her survival to date at 21 years, although she unfortunately lost her husband to lung cancer five years ago.
The Relay for Life in Logan County has been going strong for 10 years, outlasting the usual life-span for these events.
Penny discusses our local longevity One key point many survivors talk about is awareness and taking care of oneself.
Penny talks about awareness of self
Corporate sponsor Mary Rutan Hospital served a survivor's breakfast Saturday morning inside the career center. The Relay had 50 teams and many of them had unique decorations, including the VanHoose and Colyer team with their Whispering Wall. The wall featured notes, pictures, and even poems remembering loved ones stricken by the disease. The JK5K road race drew a huge crowd. About two-hundred runners raced 3.1 miles from Hi-Point to Zanesfield. Winners in each age group were recognzied Saturday morning. The Relay for Life concluded with the Caregiver's Lap. If you would like to learn more about the Relay for Life locally, contact Mrs. Higgins at 539-8148. You can see more infomation from the American Cancer Society at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|