Relay for Life continues to accept donations
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 3, 2016 1:45 AM
Donations for the 2016 Relay for Life event will be accepted through the month of August, with organizers hoping to reach the $285,000 goal.
"We have around $220,000, but money is still coming in," said Brenda Robinson, community manager for the local Relay for Life, held May 20 at the fairgrounds.
The annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and research efforts experienced a few glitches this year.
Attendance, and the number of booths, were both down, in part due to the weather. Intermittent showers that started Friday evening washed out several of the events, including the children's walk and related activities.
"We are so sorry the weather did not permit us to have the Youth Walk activities on Saturday morning," Mrs. Robinson said. "Next year, we are hoping the weather will be working in our favor for an even more successful event."
She estimated the attendance at this year's Relay was between 2,500 and 3,000.
It also drew 622 registered participants, 57 teams, 279 registered cancer survivors and 98 caregivers.
Organizers recently presented awards to the top fundraisers.
First place for the most money raised went to Butterball's team, "Gobblin for a Cure," which brought in $23,704.
Second place went to Team Piedmont, from Piedmont Natural Gas, with $19,392.
Strickland Insurance Group collected $15,490, earning third place.
The most money raised by a rookie team was Bright Beginnings, with $2,687.
Nicole Jones, from the Gobblin for a Cure team, raised the most money online, $2,090.
The Grantham Bulldogs team was also recognized for its efforts to raise money in memory of one of its members, Sue Hill, who passed away from cancer this year. The team raised $12,736.
The Doc Adams Spirit Award, named in honor of Dr. Lee Adams, one of the event founders, went to Kim Hoffman.
Campsite winners included the First Church team, first place; Bright Beginnings, second place; and Serenity, third place. The First Church team also won the Relay Team Spirit Award.
"We want to thank all of our sponsors, team captains, survivors, caregivers, participants, leadership teams and the community for their continued dedication and support to the success of our event," Mrs. Robinson said.
"With their efforts we are able to fund lifesaving research that is making a difference in the lives of our survivors by providing education and new and better treatment options through our National Cancer Information Center and website, www.cancer.org, as we work to find cures that contribute to a world with less pain and suffering from cancer."
Anyone wishing to send a donation to the cause is asked to mail it to Wayne County Relay for Life, c/o American Cancer Society, 8300 Health Park, Suite 10, Raleigh, N.C. 27615.