American Cancer Society's Relay For Life 2007
Union County generous in the fight against cancer

The track at Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium was packed with a crowd ready to celebrate life last Friday night, as Union County held it's 13th annual Relay for Life.

"Union County has again proven to be a most generous and caring community in the fight against cancer," stated Allyson McGraw. "Some people look at this event as merely another fundraising event, but to me especially and to most of those on our event committees, Relay For Life is so much more. It is so much more that it becomes difficult to put it into words.

"Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature fund raising event on a global level, but on our local level it is a time for teams, families, businesses (large & small), churches of all faiths and sizes to come together in a show of strength, faith, determination, dedication, and hope in the fight against cancer. Our local event began back in 1995 with only 10 on-site teams. Now we have 31 support and onsite teams representing nearly 500 individuals in our community that have been touched by cancer and want to do something to help lessen the burden of cancer in our lives," Mrs. McGraw added.

The crowd was different from the usual fall Friday night crowd, but not so much different. There were shouts and yells of excitement as the cancer survivors gathered for that Opening Ceremonial Survivors Lap. There was the hush as the crowd prepared. Rev. Georgia Cline of the Antioch Baptist Church gave the traditional invocation and the North Georgia Honor Guards presented the American Flag with our National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Bob Woodward. "The Kennedy Family" honored the gathering with a special musical selection and Jimmy the Clown led the group around the oval track.

Within that group marching around the track were many of our friends, neighbors, and co-workers. There are many special stories about these cancer survivors. Stories that will make one laugh, cry, fill with hope, and say we can never give up.

The 2007 Honorary Grand Marshalls are Steven Lewis and Sean Byers. Both young men are seniors at UCHS but they also share another common bond. They are survivors of brain tumors. They both have loving and supportive families who walk with them daily in their struggles. Riding with the young men was "Maggie May" Steven's assistance dog.

Stacy Head and her group of volunteers hosted the Survivors Hospitality Tent prior to the ceremony. Under the tents in the shade, one could see many survivors and caregivers alike hugging, shaking hands, or patting each other on the back. When the signal to start the lap was given there were many holding hands as they celebrated life.

"I saw one family walking with a granddaughter, a beautiful young teenager who has volunteered with our local Relay for several years. This year she was walking with both her grandparents who are both cancer survivors. In my mind I thought about some other grandchildren who may not remember their "papa" because cancer had already taken a toll on that vibrant and loving man's life," Mrs. McGraw remarked.

In the survivors lap one could see people being pushed in wheelchairs, people wearing turbans to cover their bald heads, young mothers with their baby strollers walking beside a family member who is in the midst of the fight against cancer. "These are all people that have benefited from the vast amount of research and the educational programs that the American Cancer Society has given leadership to through the years." she added. One particular survivor was honored when her fellow church members from Coosa United Methodist Church gathered around her and her family as they presented her with a very special hand crafted prayer shawl. She is one of those who has benefited from the research in the past and is now hoping that the newest research will help in this battle again.

The Relay For Life event in Union County has truly made an impact on the lives of our citizens. "While there is still much to do in this fight against cancer, when we see and hear about these survivors, I feel good about how we are joining together to get this accomplished in our community," Mrs. McGraw concluded.

There were many, many volunteers who got this event ready for 2007. Over the next couple of weeks we will try our best to say thanks to all of those dedicated workers. As you see those Relay For Life t-shirts being worn around the county, you will be looking at many of them as those shirts represent a lot of hard work by those volunteers both young and old.

Thanks especially to the event committee members who coordinted teams, activities, sponsorships, survivors activities, clean-up and set-up, food & beverages, luminarias & torches, and so much more. Mia Crowe, Carla Drake, Janet Hartman, Kathy Heyer, Stacy Head, Vee Laffoon, Betty Moshier, Paul Pendleton, Judy Rich, Barbara Richardson, Ken Roney, Joanne Sales, Jane Thompson, and Sue Upchurch, Becky & Butch Quick. Thanks also to our American Cancer Society Community Manager Angela T. Puleo for her dedication and support.

Mia Crowe served as our accounting chair. Her final report will be ready for our July 16th Wrap-Up Victory Celebration. The total announced on Saturday morning was $121,500.

"That Closing Ceremony and Friendship Circle was our largest ever. It had been a long and cool night, but there wasn't any bad weather to dampen our spirits and our walking the track," she said.

In addition to being our accounting chair, Mia was also a team member for Cadence Bank. "I am always amazed at those of us who are still walking and staying awake each year," stated Allyson McGraw, the "Spirit Checker" for the Relay For Life Buck$ activity. "This was the best year ever. Between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. I counted a total of 71 individuals ( including Mia) representing 12 teams on the track. To me that was a sign that our teams and volunteers had gotten the message....cancer never sleeps, either," added Mrs. McGraw.

Relay For Life teams also show their dedication to the fight against cancer by working hard to provide entertaining and informative campsites. Two teams are recognized each year for campsites that show creativity, cancerrelated theme, neatness, team identification, and fitting in with the overall event theme. The runner -up for Best Campsite was awarded to Cadence Bank's team. The Best Overall Campsite was awarded to St. Francis Catholic Church's team.

"There were some excellent campsite decorations and themes this year," stated Sue Upchurch, co-coordinator for the judging. Almost all of the campsites included the education about cancer and early detection information. This helps team members and visitors to the event to see the Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society missions in action.

The Team Parade Award was presented to the United Community Bank's team. " Their entourage of ancient Egyptian characters was great," reported Betty Moshier, co-coordinator for judging. " The "teams on parade" featured team members dressed in "Roaring Twenties" fashions from the Blairsville School of Dance and the Old West from the First United Methodist Church Team, just to mention a few," she added.

Sue Upchurch announced that the annual Barbecue Ribs and Sauce contest raised over $2700 with the seven teams cooking this year. A more detailed listing of the teams and their awards will be provided next week.

Food was available from several Relay For Life teams this year. The Ray of Hope team serve up some excellent frozen treats. The Blairsville Kiwanis Club members continued their support for the Relay For Life by operating the concession stand and serving delicious hamburgers and hotdogs along with soft drinks and water donated by Coca-Cola. Ruby Warren's brownies were also a big hit. After midnight, the teams enjoyed pizza donated by Domino's. The early morning walkers enjoyed sausage and biscuits and juice from McDonald's and Mayfield Dairies.

For many the highlight of the annual Relay For Life event in Union County is the candle lighting or luminaria ceremony. This year the event was held just as the sun was setting behind the home stands. Beta Sigma Phi Iota Iota members and friends, along with help from the United Community Bank's Junior Board of Directors, lined the track with luminarias and spelled out HOPE in the visitors stands. As the ceremony began under the direction of Carla Drake, the candles began to burn brighter. Along the homestand fence were 32 torches that were lit as the honored names were read by Mrs. Drake at the beginning of the ceremony. Also participating in the ceremony were: Leah C. Adams, Anne and Emma Krier, Rev. Jake Colwell, and Kim Sales Sterious.

Allyson McGraw (left) and Sue Upchurch are volunteer Co-Coordinators for the Relay For Life in Union County.

Near the end of the ceremony while everyone held individual lighted candles, caregivers were invited to join together in front of the stage. "This was a new portion of the Relay For Life event that allowed our survivors and volunteers to express our love and appreciation for our nonmedical as well as medical caregivers. They are so important in this fight for survival," added Mrs. Darke, who is a cancer survivor and also a caregiver, just as many others happen to be in our community. During this time, the names and photos of many being honored with the luminarias and torches were scrolled on the giant inflatable movie screen set up next to the stage area. Many stood around watching the names and photos scroll by in silence. As the lights on the field were turned up slowly, the activities and walking the laps began again. "I am sure that many returned to their walking with a better sense of why they were participating in this event," added Mrs. Drake.

The entertainment and activities were coordinated by Vee Laffoon and Joanne Sales this year. Thanks to the good weather, we were able to have a full schedule that began at 5:30 p.m. with dancers of all ages from the Blairsville School of Dance. The stage was set for the rest of the evening with their lively demonstrations of tap, clogging and even ballroom dancing. The Kennedy Family Band, "Liza", "Elvis" and Nick Daddona serenaded the walkers ,survivors, and spectators.

The Ray of Hope team coordinated the "Baby, Tiny Miss and Master and the Little Miss and Master contest this year. Winners were announced and awarded their prizes.

Contestants ranged in age from 13 months to 8 years. Names and photos will appear in later reports of the event. Members from the Ray of Hope team also coordinated the Midnight Madness Team activities. Those activities included the marshmallow eating contest, the sponge relay, the hula hoop relay , the crazy hat contest, and the Box Car Races. The last activity before quiet time was the scavenger hunt. Thanks to this hardworking team who made the event fun for all!

Nick Daddona took charge of the annual "Carlton Shaw Memorial Legs Contest". Eleven entered the contest with the Home Depot & the Elementary School entries winning Prettiest, Ugliest, and Hairiest titles and prizes.

Special Guest Entertainer this year was Mr. Kim Armstrong from Stone Mountain, Georgia. His lively line dancing got quite a crowd to their feet on the middle of the field. With the assistance of his wife and our DJ James Hooper , Mr. Armstrong kept the team members and even some survivors dancing the night away. " We were so fortunate to be able to get our event on his schedule. He has entertained at many Relay For Life events across the state and nation. Our volunteers want to thank the Holiday Inn of Blairsville for helping us with accommodations for our out of town entertainment this year," she stated.

There will be a long list of supporters, sponsors, and donors that will be published in the coming editions of the Union Sentinel. We want to be sure that our community knows how much we appreciate the support shown to the 22+ teams also. "This was the first year that our county has printed the backs of the team tshirts with our Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsors," reported Betty Moshier, Sponsorship Chair. " Thanks to the teams for getting the word out to our community about this opportunity," she added. "Thanks, also, to our local media for helping us recognize these sponsors prior to the event this year." Large sign boards with sponsors as well as in kind donors listings were displayed along the track area near the home stands. Entertainment and Activities sponsors were also listed on special signage near the stage. Printed programs were also distributed to the teams and visitors. Appreciation is expressed to Mrs. Puleo for her work in getting this program printed for our event this year.

In front of the stage was a vignette featuring the 2007 "Relay For Life Spirit Rocks" decorated by the teams. Rocks were provided by North Georgia Stone of Blairsville. The Spirit Rocks will be used as centerpieces during the July 16th Wrap Up Victory Celebration to be held at the Southern Tree Plantation. Team members, volunteers and sponsors are reminded to RSVP to Janet Hartman at 706-745- 8470 or Judy H. Rich at 706-745- 7297 before July 11th.

Monday, July 16th will be a busy day for our American Cancer Society volunteers. That will be the next free session of the "Look Good Feel Better" class for women patients facing hair loss and skin care issues during cancer treatments. Any one interested in signing up for the class should call 1-800-ACS-2345 to pre-register. In addition to information about wigs and hats or scarves, the participants will receive free makeup kits donated through the American Cancer Society and the National Association for Fragrance and the National Cosmetology Association. The class will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 16th in the conference room at the Total Cancer Care Center adjacent to Union General Hospital on Deep South Farm Rd. in Blairsville. Participants in this class do not have to be patients at this center. They can be receiving their cancer treatments at any facility.