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Relay bounces back, raises $42K By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer  | Photos by Sue Watson
Birthday balloons
Evelyn
Watkins decorates the Carlisle’s Big Star tent using the theme – “A
world with less cancer is a world with more birthdays.” |
The
Marshall County Relay For Life was considered a success this year,
partly because weather permitted the act to go on and a good crowd
turned out to enjoy fun and fellowship. The event was canceled due to weather last year and cut short around midnight in 2008.  | Parade of teams
Jim Robinson (left) and
David Wright carry their team’s banner in the walk around the track. In
back, also with Merchants & Farmers Bank, are Lisa Dodson and Debra
Tomlinson. |
As
of Monday $42,495.51 has been raised this year, according to Kathy
Ritts. The award for the team raising the most money went to Merchants
& Farmers Bank, with the Big Star Baggers (Carlisle’s Big Star)
coming in second.  | Photos by Sue Watson
Reid’s Gift team
(From
left) Bettina Hardin, Parris Williams and Juanita Dillard proudly carry
the banner of their team – Reid’s Gift Church. The team won the Sunrise
Award, with the most members staying all night. |
Reid’s Gift Church won the
Sunrise Award for the team with the most members on the field at the
end of the event. They had 27 members to stay all night. “That’s their thing, from the first year that they organized as a team,” Ritts said. Marshall
County Relay had set a goal to raise $65,000 this year but fell behind
due to hard economic times. But hard times did not diminish the love
and the fun shared Friday night at kickoff, with the survivors’ lap,
the caregivers’ lap and then the team parade.  | Survivors’ Lap
A group of Marshall Countians gather for the Survivors’ Lap during the Relay for Life. |
This
year’s theme – “A world with less cancer is a world with more
birthdays” – brought lots of birthday cakes and party favors into the
campsite decorations. Gracie Echols, county
chair of the Relay for Life, was sad that Marshall County is short
$22,000 below its goal for the year, but reminds everyone that it is
not too late to make a donation and have it count toward this year’s
goal. “This weekend we raised over $42,000 for
the American Cancer Society, and we had fun doing it,” she said. “The
response to our effort to raise money to make this world with less
cancer was a great reminder of what makes the Marshall County
community so special. Thank you for your contributions, your countless
hours of volunteer services and your participation. The ACS Marshall
County committee thanks all those who stepped up and provided
first-class entertainment.”  | Entertainment
Praise team members from Hopewell #2 CME Church perform Friday evening for Relay for Life participants. |
Cheers and special
thanks to the sponsors – American Pacific Paneling, J.F. Brittenum and
Son Funeral Home, Rust College & WURC radio, Merchants &
Farmers Bank, The South Reporter, WKRA radio, Asbury United Methodist
Church, Byers Law Firm/Shirley Byers, Holly Springs Utility Department
employees and the Marshall County community. And
thanks to the Relay for Life committee and these teams – Alliance
HealthCare System; Anderson Chapel CME Church; Asbury United Methodist
Church; Beta Sigma Phi Sorority; Big Star Baggers; Cancer Missionaries;
Believers (Christ Temple Church of God in Christ); Christians for a
Cancer Cure (First United Methodist Church); Hopewell #1 MB Church; ICS
Head Start; Merchants and Farmers Bank; Marshall County/Holly Springs
Rust Club; Marshall County Sheriff’s Department; Working to Help Others
(Mt. Olive MB Church); Mt. Pisgah CME Church; Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; Powell Chapel Lodge; Rayford
Family; Reid’s Gift Missionary Baptist Church; St. Paul CME Church;
Sons of Blood & Thunder (Omegas); Trinity Mission Health and Rehab;
Union Valley MB Church; Walmart; Zeta Upsilon Zeta; and Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority. This year the national Relay For Life celebrates its 25th year. Proceeds
go to the American Cancer Society for education, research, early
detection and to support those locally who need help getting to
treatment centers. Donations can be made payable to The American Cancer
Society, Marshall County Relay For Life, 607 W. Main Street, Suite C,
Tupelo, MS 38804. |
