Relay for Life teams sell, sing to beat event's $675,000 goal
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on March 29, 2007 1:45 PM
To raise money to fight cancer, this year's Relay for Life teams are doing everything from making homemade bread to sponsoring motorcycle runs and gospel sings.
The goal for the 2007 Relay, which is scheduled for May 18-19, is $675,000. The event will be held at Wayne Community College.
Teams are getting revved up for the event by holding their own mini-fundraisers.
For members of Wayne Women's Clinic team, that means bread.
The bakers are nurses Marcia Prince, who also serves as team captain, Jan Pennington and Glenda Overman, along with Vikki Mercer, office manager.
There are four varieties -- regular; fancy with cranberries, raisins and toasted walnuts; cinnamon; and cinnamon swirl. Each loaf is $5. Orders can be placed by calling 734-3344.
The team decided to get involved in the fundraising in high gear when cancer struck home -- one of their fellow staff members developed breast cancer. Mrs. Prince's sister Patty Caddell was diagnosed with the disease and Mrs. Mercer's husband, Donald, has suffered from three types of cancer.
So, they decided to make bread to help fight back -- a fundraising idea proposed by Ms. Prince's sister, also a member of the team.
"It has gone over very well," Mrs. Prince said. The team has made more than $3,000 selling the breads since October. "We are kneading for a cure."
The Wayne Radiation Oncology Radiators team has been raising money for the fight against cancer for 10 years. This year, for the second time, they will decorate a Tree of Hope as part of their Relay for Life effort.
Team captain Phyllis Parrish said patients, family members or anyone in the community may stop by the office and purchase a glass ornament for $5 in memory of or in honor of someone battling cancer.
Once purchased, the ornaments may be placed on the tree at Wayne Radiation Oncology, picked up at the Relay or kept on the tree permanently. They may be purchased at the office before the Relay or at the Relay.
Ornaments come in pink for breast cancer, blue for prostate cancer and purple for other cancers. They are decorated and personalized.
"It was a great success last year," Ms. Parrish said. "It was even a bit overwhelming." The Tree of Hope raised more than $500 last year.
To honor one of their own who lost his battle with cancer, the Goldsboro Harley Owners Group (HOG) and Shelton's Harley Davidson are doing a poker run Sunday.
It's in memory of Charlie Baker, a military retiree who worked at Shelton's.
"He touched the lives of so many," organizer Sharon Brown said. "He wanted a place that avid bikers like himself could go and have a good time. So he opened Country Times Tavern, better known as Charlie's. Charlie never let on that his cancer was getting the best of him."
Baker died almost two years ago, but his memory lives on, Ms. Brown said.
Over at Cherry Hospital, team members' kitchens have been busy.
They have put together tried-and-true recipes into a cookbook -- "The Melting Pot III" -- to sell to raise money for the Relay.
They are $10 each and may be purchased by calling Shelley Flores at 580-2903.
And those are just a few of the fundraisers planned around town.
Other efforts include:
*We Are Family team from Mt. Nelson Baptist Church in Eureka will have a gospel sing April 21 at 7 p.m. at the church featuring Prayz from Pikeville and other singers. Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall following the concert.
*Anchor Coupling team will hold a car and truck show April 14 in conjunction with BNOTIZD Car and Truck Club. It will be held in the Sears parking lot at Berkeley Mall. Registration is from 8 a.m. to noon with a fee of $20 for each entry. Judging will be at 1 p.m., and trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m. Food and drinks will be available throughout the day and there will be an appearance by the CAT Chopper.
*The Rainbow Crusaders team will have their famous hot dog sale April 6 and 7 at Wal-Mart featuring baked goods, homemade cakes and Relay novelties.
*Relay Princesses team will hold a pageant April 14 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olive Historic Assembly Hall. Tickets are $5 each.
*Wayne Memorial Hospital's team is selling cookbooks for $10 each. They may be purchased by calling Melody Hartman at 731-6127 or e-mailing at melody.hartman@waynehealth.org.
*Terrell's Tornado's team will have its annual barbecue lunch Wednesday for eat-in or take-out. Tickets are $6 and must be purchased in advance by calling 222-7557. Plates include barbecue, potatoes, green beans and dessert.
*Eastern Wayne Elementary Walkers For Life team is selling magnets. They are six-inch round magnets with the map of Wayne County on them with a track going around the map on which people are walking. They come in purple on white and white on purple and are $10 each. To order a magnet, contact Terry Butler at 751-7130 or 252-747-8134 or e-mail to terrybutler@wcps.org.
*Canes For a Cure team is having a silent auction of sports items. Items may be viewed and bid on at www.eteamz.com/waynecountyhurricanes.
*Horse 'N' Around For A Cure team will have a dog show April 21 at 10 a.m. at Herman Park. To enter your dog, call Carolyn Plummer at 738-7770.
*Piedmont team will have a golf tournament May 2 and a motorcycle poker run May 5. To enter, call 705-5031.
*Stoney Creek Free Will Baptist Church's team is having a Relay Extravaganza Sunday at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary featuring Freddie Pierce, Stoney Creek Men's Ensemble, Renewed Harts and more.
*Dudley Christian Church's team, along with community hospice, will have a dinner theater Sunday at 5 p.m. in the church community life center. There will be a dinner, entertainment by Joyful Noise and Jimmy Martin and a dessert auction.
For more fundraisers, go to the Wayne County Unit of the American Cancer Society's Web site at www.wayneacs.org.