Each year, the local Relay For Life is a huge success. The overnight event celebrates cancer survivorship and raises money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society. Relays are held in communities all over the nation every spring.
The 2008 McDuffie County Relay was dedicated to Prof. Joseph Greene, a local resident who was treated for colon cancer in 1982, became a national spokesperson for the ACS in 2006, and who lost his life to cancer in November of last year. The theme of the McDuffie Relay was "Joe Greene: A Living Legacy."
"I think it was one of the better ones that we had, and it goes all out to the planners who did all the work, they did a super job," said Prof. Greene's widow, Barney. "The 2008 RFL was the largest that I have ever attended, and all the tents were unusually decorated and the weather was good. And everyone that I have talked with said it was the top of all relays. I want to thank all who participated."
During the event last Friday night, participants could write in a special book and tell how Prof. Greene was an inspiration to them. The book was presented to Prof. Greene's widow, Barney, Sunday morning during the service at Springfield Baptist Church.
"I filled up one whole page. I wanted to do more, but I didn't want to be greedy," RFL Co-Chair Peggy Willis said Saturday morning after the Relay. "He was my professor in college ... and he challenged us to be the best we could be. He thought each one of us needed to make a difference in our community."
And the community made a difference to those who's lives have been affected by cancer. This year's event has already brought in $220,000. Mary Cain, an assistant at Knox and Swan Attorneys, said the deadline for donations is Friday, Aug. 29. The goal for this year is $250,000.
That same goal was met last year. But the money-counting process has gone much smoother this year for Ms. Cain. She said the 55 teams turned in their funds as they were earned this year, instead of holding them until the bank night on Thursday before the event.
"It took five of us counting all day long on Friday to get it counted last year," she said. "Then we had to begin counting again Saturday morning to count the money that was made during the event. ... I just kept thinking that there was no way to get the money counted, because it comes in loose dollars and change, and they don't wrap the change."
After encouragement from ACS Manager Danielle Caldwell to make the money easier to handle, Ms. Cain said many team captains deposited their money into a bank account and then wrote one check to the Relay.
And one team captain found a way to organize the money that would benefit everyone involved. As a school teacher, she had her students count and roll the money as part of their educational lessons.
"Lisa Sellers, at Thomson Elementary, she brought in a cooler full of coins, and the kids had wrapped every single one of them," Ms. Cain said. "There was over $1,000 in coins, and then (we) had to get the hand truck, and we put the cooler on the hand truck and rolled it across the parking lot to the bank. All the time that they put into that, I just thought that was wonderful. Thomson Elementary went above and beyond the call of duty."
Fifty-five teams participated in the event.
Each team had their own tent at the Relay and at least one member took turns walking or running laps around the track all night.
Winners of the teams' contests of Best Baton, Best Banner and Best Tent will be announced at the celebration luncheon in June.
