$256K closer: Local teams raise money to help American Cancer Society
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 26, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Nancy Autry hugs Laura Bevell after receiving the Doc Adams Spirit Award for her dedication and spirit to Wayne County Relay for Life Thursday night at Wayne Memorial Hospital during the annual Relay for Life recognition night. Mrs. Autry also won third place in the campsite competition.
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Linda Amon, representing Piedmont Natural Gas, Rita Stukes, representing Handy Mart Pope, and Teresa King, representing T.A. Loving, accept the awards for the top fundraisers for the 2015 Relay for Life year. Piedmont Natural gas raised $18,933, Handy Mart Pope raised $22,788 and as the top fundraiser T.A. Loving $31,000. To date, this year's fundraising total is $256,000, but donations are still coming in and fundraising doesn't end until Aug. 31.
Donations are still coming in, but at Thursday night's wrap-up and awards ceremony, Relay for Life organizers said the 2015 event had generated $256,000 to date.
"We're still raising money. We're not done with this year until Aug. 31," said Brenda Robinson, an event organizer.
The annual fundraiser for cancer research has been a May staple in the Wayne County community since 1990.
One of the original organizers, Dr. Lee Adams -- "the heart of Relay," Mrs. Robinson said -- had an award renamed in his honor two years ago. The Doc Adams Spirit Award holds special meaning, she said, having won it herself in 2006.
"It means that you put your heart into what you're doing and you enjoy it and it shows," she said. "It inspires everyone around you and you help other people."
This year's award went to Nancy Autry, whose enthusiasm for the cause was obvious early on.
"She always came out with the crazy stuff on," Mrs. Robinson said. "She worked really hard."
"It was worth wearing all those crazy hats," Ms. Autry said with a laugh.
Rays of Hope was the name of her team. The campsite, which featured a horse and hay theme, netted her third place in the campsite awards. She also raised $1,974 for the event.
First place campsite award went to T.A. Loving, which incorporated the very popular "Star Wars" theme. Employees dressed as several characters from the movie and staged laser demonstrations.
Second place campsite award was Goldsboro Wellness Center, "Health Nutz," which had a carnival theme.
T.A. Loving also raised the most money among the teams, with $31,000 contributed.
Others in the top three for raising the most money were Handy Mart Pope, with $22,788, and Piedmont Natural Gas, which has held golf tournaments over the years. This year's contribution to the cause was $18,933.
The most money raised by a rookie team this year came from Gobblin' for a Cure, with $10,063.
American Cancer Society representative Eric Heydorn, senior manager for Relay for Life, praised the efforts for this year's local event, crediting Wayne County with being "one of the top communities in the Carolinas."
"The money that you raised goes to work right here in North Carolina," he said. "It's really helping people in your community and across the Carolinas."
Last year alone, he said, more than 14,000 people in the state called the national center, seeking information and resources dealing with cancer diagnosis and treatment.
"In the last year, 7,000 North Carolinians were provided a free night or reduced lodging when they couldn't afford to stay for treatment," he said. "Over $20 million is invested in research grants, which is more than North Carolina raises."
Another 972,000 online visits were logged to the website cancer.org, he said.
"So the money you raise is really put to good use in North Carolina," Heydom said. "Remember that when you're going out there raising money. We're going to keep putting it back into the community and your area."