Brenda Robinson, Relay for Life
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on March 28, 2016 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Relay for Life has taken a dip in attendance and money raised in recent years but promises to be back and better than ever, says longtime volunteer and event organizer Brenda Robinson.
"I have accepted the position of community manager," she said last week, the first time a local person has held the position with the American Cancer Society.
Her credentials are impressive -- 16 years of experience as a volunteer, team captain and several leadership roles, including chairperson of the event for seven or eight years, she said.
The annual May fundraiser for cancer research has boasted a rich history in Wayne County since it was started in 1990. In 2004, it reached the half-million dollar mark, going on to break records and win state and national awards.
"We have always been in the top 20 nationwide," she said. "We were No.1 in the state up until this past year. We have raised more funds than any other community. However, Johnston County beat us out last year but we're looking to gain that back.
"We have a strong history. We have raised a lot of money. The community support has been a key in our efforts to raise these funds. We need their continued support."
Even when the economy dipped, the community remained loyal. In 2009, the event brought in $634,000. The following year, with more than 1,800 participants and 120 teams, it generated $567,197. In 2011, it leveled off at $512,965.
The past couple years, though, it declined, going from $406,656 in 2013 to $256,000 in 2015.
This year's goal is $285,000.
Mrs. Robinson is confident that things will improve.
"We have new people on our leadership team. It has completely reorganized," she said. "We have fresh faces, fresh ideas and new positions and we're looking forward to a different experience this year at Relay."
She said she hopes to get more youth involved, bring back volunteers and workers who may have taken a break, and lend more support to the survivors themselves.
After all, the latter is the reason she was initially drawn to Relay for Life.
"I first got involved with Relay because it helped my heart to heal from losing loved ones that had cancer," she said. "I knew that I needed to help other people to survive.
"Before the American Cancer Society came into existence, people were diagnosed with cancer and there was no hope, there was no treatment, it was really a death sentence. Because of the money raised by Relay and the research conducted, it's not a death sentence any more."
Many of the cancers detected today are treatable, she said, and she believes strongly in the ACS mission -- to save lives through research, education, services and advocacy.
"I work for the American Cancer Society. I oversee Relay for Life in Wayne County and I'm here in Wayne County," she said. "My office is here, so that for any needs to be met, I'm right here. I'm local."
This year's event will be held at the fairgrounds May 20 and 21.
Anyone interested in forming a team is asked to register and embark on fundraising efforts.
"We try to do different things -- hot dog sales, car washes, different avenues of raising money," she said. "There is no cost for registration. We only ask that each team raise $100 and that'll put them into the Hope Club."
On April 21 is the Survivor Dinner from 6-8 p.m. at First Pentecostal Holiness Church. Cancer survivors are invited to register in advance to get an accurate head count.
On April 23 at Waynesborough Park, "Bark for Life" will be held for canine lover and animal lovers, starting at 9 a.m. It will be a family day, with lots of activities, including cartoon characters and clowns.
Hope Sunday, when churches are encouraged to honor their cancer survivors, will be on May 1.
As for the event itself, gates open at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 20. The opening ceremony starts at 6 p.m., followed by the survivors walk at 6:30. Luminary lighting is at 9. Luminaries can be purchased for $10 each.
On Saturday morning, breakfast will be served early, with the kids walk at 9 and the closing ceremonies at 10:30.
The public is invited to the "signature fundraiser" for the American Cancer Society, where the majority of the money raised goes to cancer research, Mrs. Robinson said.
"We're pushing to stay all night, so if someone gets off work at 10:30 and comes out there, we'll have food and special laps such as an emergency service lap, a pajama lap, all kinds of different laps," she said.
Attendance has admittedly fallen off in recent years, she said. Last year's event competed with the airshow.
She said she is confident -- between the leadership team, others who may return, and her belief in this community -- that it will be a strong and successful event again.
"We want to get more teams involved, we want to get more participants involved and we definitely want to get cancer survivors registered and involved in our event," she said. "We want to get more survivors on teams because they are the reason we do what we do.
"I'm hoping that when people find out we have got a local person in charge of this event, it will pull some of our teams back. I want to let them know we're still here, we're still going strong and we're looking for a big event this year."
For more information, visit the website www.relayforlife.org/waynenc or call 919-344-8999.