Wayne is ready to Relay on Friday
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on May 16, 2007 1:45 PM
Wayne County residents are once again putting on their walking shoes to fight cancer.
The 18th annual Relay for Life will kick off Friday with entertainment and an opening ceremony. The event concludes Saturday.
For the third year, the Relay will be held at Wayne Community College.
Last year, 105 teams raised a total of $636,000. This year's goal is $675,000, co-chairman Terry Butler said.
Mrs. Butler said she is confident the county will reach this year's goal.
"That's why we set goals, to try to reach them," she said. "And if we don't reach them, then at least we had that fight to try to do it."
Mrs. Butler said she doesn't understand how the event continues to get bigger year after year.
"But then I can, because Wayne County shines during this particular time," she said. "I guess it's just where cancer affects so many people and this is a way to show support and help."
The relay is the annual fundraiser for the Wayne County unit of the American Cancer Society. All proceeds go to cancer research and local patient services.
About 100 teams will start setting up campsites Friday, organizers said.
An opening ceremony will be held at 6 p.m., with Jerry Wayne of 107.9 radio serving as master of ceremonies. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's honor guard will present the flag and New Hope United Methodist Church's pastor, Martin Armstrong, will offer a prayer.
Members of the Wayne County Public Schools cheerleading teams will lead cancer survivors around the track during the annual survivors lap that officially starts the event.
Mayor Al King will be on hand to welcome the participants and Dr. Jim Atkins, a cancer specialist with Southeastern Medical Oncology Center, will give a cancer update. Then the Flame of Hope will be lit by relay co-chairmen, Mrs. Butler, Jeff Whitener, Dr. Lee Adams and Mark Renfrow, along with Miss Goldsboro Nikki Sanderson.
At 9 p.m., there will be a luminaria lighting ceremony. First Baptist Church of Goldsboro's pastor, Glenn Phillips, will give a prayer and cancer survivor Helen Harwood will talk about dealing with cancer.
Throughout the night there will be food, games and fellowship.
On Saturday, the relay concludes with a closing ceremony at 11 a.m. John Smith will give a prayer and recognition will be given to those raising the most money and winners of the best campsite.
Here is the schedule of events for the 2007 Relay for Life:
Friday
6 p.m. -- Opening ceremony and cancer survivors lap
7 p.m. -- Campsite judging
8:45 p.m. -- Campsite winners announced
9 p.m. -- Luminaria ceremony
9:30 p.m. -- Fireworks
Saturday
9-10:30 a.m. -- Kids walk
10:30 a.m. -- Pack the track last lap walk
11 a.m. -- Closing ceremony
Here is the entertainment schedule for the relay:
Friday
4-4:45 p.m. -- Shag Daddy, beach and shag music
4:45-5:30 p.m. -- Vocalists Katie McCloud, Haley Kornegay, Casey Sutton and Susan Outlaw.
5:30-6 p.m. -- Saint Sound musical group from Southern Wayne High School directed by Jason Cox.
6:45-7:15 p.m. -- Matt Bartlett Band
7:15-8 p.m. -- The Alves Brothers
8-8:45 p.m. -- Renewed Hearts doing "You'll Never Walk Alone"
9:30-11 p.m. -- Banished