Community raises over $37,500 at annual ACS Relay for Life

One of the highlights of the Sixth Annual Lincoln County American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life was the Survivors' Walk, which is held every year to recognize those in the community who have fought the disease with courage and dignity and survived. The relay took place Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex.

Local residents raised $37,500 (and counting) to help with the fight against cancer at the Sixth Annual Lincoln County American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life held Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex.

The county's goal was $36,000.

This year's relay was held in memory of Mildred Dean Brown, who passed away on August 1, 2006, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Although her health was deteriorating rapidly, Dean served as the chairman of the 2006 Lincoln County Relay for Life.

The 2007 relay began at 7 p.m. Friday and ended sometime during the wee hours of the morning on Saturday. All through the night, members of 11 teams walked around the field to show support for the ACS and its mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.

Ernie Doss, director of the Lincoln County Department of Public Safety, gets plastered with a pie at the Lincoln County ACS Relay for Life.

The theme for the event was "Because Cancer Never Sleeps."

The teams raising the most money for the relay were as follows:

.. "The Courthouse Crew" (the Lincoln County Courthouse), $5,131.04. Team captains - Kenny Adair, Brenda Danner, and Dena Gibson.

.. "Winkie, Blinkie, and Nod" (Newberry Missionary Baptist Church), $3,835.65. Team captains - Mary Lowe, Sherman Norman, and Willie Harris.

.. The "Cancer Commandos" (Ebenezer Baptist Church), $3,214.33. Team captain - Debbie Tutt.

.. The "First Baptist Fishermen," $3,143.35. Team captains - Sophia Kinlow and Jeremy Latimer.

Other teams participating in the relay were:

.. Mulberry C.M.E. Church - Carrie Parker and Travis Reid, captains.

.. Pleasant Grove C.M.E. Church - Doris Blackwell, captain.

.. "The Price's Grove Healers" (Price's Grove Baptist Church) - Rachel Hearst, captain.

.. "The Farmers State Bank Gang" - Melissa Burgess, captain.

.. "The Lincolnton Lifers," comprised of cancer survivors in the county - Paula Henderson, captain.

.. Lincoln County Family Connection - Bethany Keener, captain.

.. The LCMS Junior Beta Club - Patty Arthur, captain.

These donations will be used to fund research, education, advocacy, and service programs sponsored by the ACS.

As in years past, one of the most meaningful events at the relay was the Luminary Ceremony, which gave participants the opportunity to celebrate the lives of those who have survived cancer and pay tribute to those brave individuals who have been lost to the disease. Prior to switching off the lights at the field, candles placed around the track in weighted bags were lit either in honor or in memory of a loved one who has struggled with cancer. The names of these special individuals were displayed on the bags.

There was also the Survivors' Victory Lap, which took place at the conclusion of the opening ceremonies. In a poignant act, symbolizing what the relay is all about, 50 cancer survivors walked around the track, cheered on by family and friends.

Following the Survivors' Victory Lap, the Caregivers' Walk and the Ministers' Lap were held to recognize those individuals who offer their time, love, and support to help people who are fighting cancer.

On a lighter note, the evening was filled with all kinds of entertainment, from a pie-throwing hullabaloo and a dunkin' booth, sponsored by Family Connection and the Courthouse Crew, respectively, to Koehler Galleries' "Big Hair Contest." The winners of the contest were: Taylor Dukes, first place; Bekendrianna Wynn, second place; and Brenda Danner McGahee, third place.

There was likewise a wonderful variety of musical entertainment.

Serving as chairman of the 2007 Relay for Life was Judy Jordan. The honorary chairman was Brittany Dandron, 7, who was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 18 months.

The vice chairman for the event was Dena Gibson.

In her comments, Jordan expressed her appreciation to all of the volunteers, the members of the planning committee, and the people of the county as a whole for making the event such a success. "Everybody working together is what makes Relay for Life what it is. It isn't so much the money that makes the relay but the effort put forth by the community - it's all about people coming together to fight cancer."

She went on to say she was amazed by the talent on display during the event. "The talent in this community is unbelievable."

Jordan concluded her remarks by pointing out that the 2007 Relay for Life would not have been possible without the generous corporate sponsors, who contributed a total of $11,500 to the war against cancer.

The sponsors were:

Platinum Sponsor - Farmers State Bank.

Gold Sponsors - Fast Times Enterprises/ Cullars Inn, the Georgia Power Company, Wills Memorial Hospital, Rocking R International, Inc., Clay Turner Realty, Inc., Henderson Logging Company, Inc., Cliatt Crossing and Augusta Crossing, J & T Service Center, Inc., the Norris Ware Youth Grief Foundation, the Lincoln County NAACP and the Twilight Improvement Association, Inc., and Garrison Hearst.

Silver Sponsors - Farmers & Merchants Bank, Jesse Wynn, Southern Classic Realty, Wilkes Telephone and Electric Company, the Lincoln County Farm Bureau, Lee Builders, Inc., Big Country Surveying.

Bell's Food Market, Mattison & Associates, Inc., H & H Industrial Maintenance, Inc., Lincoln Welding & Machine, Inc., Rowland & Ware Auto Parts, Inc., Radio Shack of Lincolnton, Jeff and Sherri Easter.

The Rayle Electric Membership Corporation, Southern Cleaning Products, Inc., Lincolnton Feed & Seed, Inc., First Assembly of God, McWhorter Logging, Inc., Defoor Realty, Lincolnton Marine, Inc., and Lewis Bus Lines and Sales.

In addition, several individuals and business helped sponsor the tote bags that were presented to cancer survivors as they arrived at the relay. The tote bag sponsors were Reed Propane, Inc., the City of Lincolnton, Lincoln Place Ace Hardware, ReMax at the Lake, Eddie Harper (in honor of Wilma Harper), Commercial Insurance Services, Inc., Roy Hunter Trucking, Lincolnton Auto Sales, LLC, Anointed Hands, Beggs Funeral Home, Inc., City Pharmacy, Dena Gibson (in memory of Russell Gibson), Keener Lawn Services, Norman's Upholstery, Pennington Paint & Body, Price's Grove Baptist Church, the Chicken House, and Universal Barber Shop.

Others deserving special recognition for their assistance with the relay were the City of Lincolnton, the Lincolnton Police Department, Lincoln County Government, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, the Lincoln County Department of Public Safety, Pine Grove United Methodist Church, Lincolnton Baptist Church, Kenny Adair, Crawford Asbell, Spratlin Hardware & Building Supply, Down South Construction, Papa's Pizza, and Clark's Plumbing & Septic.

For more information about the American Cancer Society and the services it offers, call 1-800-ACS- 2345 or visit the organization's web at .