Community steps out to find a cure for cancer

The annual Lincoln County Cancer Survivor Banquet was held Thursday, April 17, in the Lincolnton UMC Fellowship Hall. Pictured are: (first row, l-r) Wilma Harper, Christy Banks, Peggy Medlin, Annette Neal, Brittany Dandron, Rev. Cullen Hicks, Hattie Dell Bolton, Perry Ann Marshall, Everett Sanders, Edward Reid, Emma Smith, Eva Parks, Pete Hardy, (second row) Paula Henderson, Lonnie Martin, Orena Cooper, Beth Talbert, Inez McWhorter, Hattie Lee Norman, Louise Walker, Jonathan Leland, Claire Watson, June Pursley, Jo Guillebeau, Mary Thurmond, Elaine Poss, (third row) Russell Reese, Tommie Henderson, Doris Holloway, Rudy Lindsey, Joan Gardner, William Jones, Doris Blackwell, Dot Dunaway, Marie Smalley, Pat Crain, Lee Bentley, and Woodrow Padgett. Not pictured is Donna Hinson.

The Seventh Annual Lincoln County American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life will officially begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex.

The theme for the relay is "Cancer is NO Vacation."

During the all-night event, teams, consisting of from eight to 15 people, will have at least one of their members walking around the track at all times to show support for the ACS and its mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.

The annual Relay for Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that, one day, cancer will be eliminated.

At the present time, a record 15 teams have signed up to take part in the event. They are:

• "BPs for the Cure of Cancer" (Bethany United Methodist Church and Pine Grove UMC).

.. The Ebenezer Baptist Church "Cancer Commandos."

.. First Baptist Church. .. "The Courthouse Crew."

.. The LCHS Student Council.

.. The Lincolnton UMC "Cowgirls."

.. The Rocking R "Rockers" (Rocking R International, Inc.).

.. "Martin's Crossroads Youth - Ages 0 to 99" (Martin's Crossroads Congregational Holiness Church).

.. Mulberry C.M.E. Church.

.. Pleasant Grove C.M.E. Church. .. "St. Luke Saints" (St. Luke Baptist Church).

.. "Lincoln Lifers '08" (Paula Henderson and friends).

.. "Team Senior Beta" (LCHS Senior Beta Club).

.. Price's Grove Baptist Church.

.. "Farmers State Bank Gang."

Along with walking, the teams will be selling a variety of delicious treats including sausage dogs, hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, Hawaiian food, jambalaya, hot wings, barbecue sandwiches, boiled peanuts, popcorn, s'mores, funnel cakes, cotton candy, nachos and chips, tea, soft drinks, water, coffee, hot chocolate, and more.

The Seventh Annual Lincoln County ACS Relay for Life will kick off with opening ceremonies at 7 p.m., followed by the Survivors' Walk.

Cancer survivors, young and old, are invited to walk the opening lap of the relay to give the community a chance to show its appreciation for these brave individuals. In essence, the victory lap is an affirmation of life.

Last week, cancer survivors were the guests of honor at a banquet held in the fellowship hall at Lincolnton UMC. Approximately 40 survivors were in attendance.

The second lap of the relay belongs to the caregivers, who provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support for those with cancer.

Then, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the relay begins in earnest with all of the teams taking the field.

One of the many highlights of this year's relay will be the "Balloons to Heaven" ceremony, a first for Lincoln County.

Prior to the ceremony, walkers and spectators will have the opportunity to purchase helium-filled balloons and place notes to loved ones inside. At 8:30 p.m., all of the balloons will be released simultaneously.

Another highlight of the relay will be the Luminary Ceremony, scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

The lighting of these special candles, placed in weighted bags, will give those present the opportunity to celebrate the lives of those who have survived cancer and to pay tribute to those who have been lost to the disease.

Each luminary will be lit either in honor of someone who has survived cancer or in memory of a loved one who lost the fight against cancer. The names of the individuals will be prominently displayed on the bags and read aloud at the relay.

In addition, the Relay for Life will feature fun and games for the entire family such as face painting, "tattoos," roping and bull riding, a silent auction, a jail 'n' bail, a drawing for a Georgia Bulldog basket, a kissing booth, musical chairs, golf putting, a lawnmower drawing, and a building contest using Legos. There are also plans for a "Pajama Lap" and a "Crazy Hat Lap."

Likewise, there will be plenty of music throughout the night. Those providing entertainment and inspiration for the relay include Bethany Keener, the Mashacha Dance and Drama Team from Faith Temple, the Lincoln County Mass Choir, Ruth Fleming, Jennifer Henderson, Renae Bolton, Shannon Cox, Jill McKinney, and the Prose of Apollo (Kitty Ball and friends).

The executive committee for the 2008 Relay for Life is comprised of Brenda Danner McGahee and Travis Reid, Co-Chairmen; Linda Willgus, Sponsorship.

Carrie Parker and Marveen Zellars, Team Recruitment and Retention; Tawanda Cullars, Luminaries; Paula Henderson, Survivorship; Renee Guthrie, Accounting; Melissa Burgess, Jeremy Latimer, Liz Dunaway, and Daravious Cullars, Entertainment.

Kathie Davis and Nelson Brooks, Logistics; Catherine Bowen, Website Manager; Kenny Adair and Crawford Asbell, DJs and Emcees; and Doris Blackwell, Debbie Tutt, and Hazel Poole, Relay Assistants.

"I love Relay for Life," stated cochairman Brenda McGahee. "Until someone in your family gets cancer, you really don't know how important Relay for Life is. It only takes one dollar to find a cure for cancer.

"I'm really looking forward to this year's relay," she continued. "I think it's going to be the best ever. We have more teams than ever before, and we have received more money from sponsors than ever before ($16,750). We are so grateful to all who have donated their time, talent, and financial resources to make this relay a success."

The funds raised during the relay will go toward furthering the ACS's mission to eliminate cancer through research, prevention, and early detection programs.

Basically, 82 percent of the monies raised will be used to fund the following mission-based activities:

.. Prevention and Education (17 percent) - These programs provide the public and health professionals with information geared toward preventing the occurrence of cancer and reducing the risk of developing cancer.

.. Patient Services (12 percent) - These are programs designed to ease the burden of cancer on patients and their families.

.. Detection/Treatment (14 percent) - These programs are directed at finding cancer before it is clinically apparent and providing patients with information about cancer treatments.

.. Research (39 percent) - These funds are used to help academic institutions and researchers seek new knowledge relating to the causes, prevention, and cure of cancer.

The remaining 18 percent of the monies raised at the relay will go toward securing charitable financial support for the ACS, funding the cost of volunteer recruitment and training as well as promotional materials, and providing executive, financial, and administrative services.

For more information about the Relay for Life, contact Brenda McGahee at 706-359-6712 or 706- 359-5536 or Travis Reed at 706-401- 3406.