Wrap-up celebration held for ACS relay participants

A wrap-up celebration was held recently for those participating in the Seventh Annual Lincoln County American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life.

With a goal of $40,000, local residents labored for months to raise a grand total of $52,406.39 to help with the fight against cancer.

The wrap-up festivities took place Wednesday, May 28, in the Lincoln County Library's Dova Partridge Annex.

During the course of the evening, awards were presented to various teams and individuals by Danielle Caldwell, a community manager with the ACS.

Those receiving recognition were:

Spirit Award: "Martin's Crossroads Youth - Ages 0 to 99." The team was fielded by Martin's Crossroads Congregational Holiness Church, with Hazel Poole serving as its captain.

Best Decorated Campsite:

.. First Place - "The Cancer Commandos" from Ebenezer Baptist Church. The team captain was Debbie Tutt.

.. Second Place - "The St. Luke Saints" from St. Luke Baptist Church. Marveen Zellars served as the team captain.

.. Third Place - Mulberry C.M.E. Church. Travis Reid was the team captain.

Most Money Raised:

.. First Place - Martin's Crossroads Youth - Ages 0 to 99, $5,500.84.

.. Second Place - "The Courthouse Crew," comprised of Lincoln County Courthouse employees, $4,956. Brenda Danner McGahee served as team captain.

.. Third Place - The Cancer Commandos, $4,504.26.

Rookie Team of the Year: "BPs for the Cure of Cancer," made up of members of Bethany United Methodist Church and Pine Grove UMC. Catherine Bowen was the team captain.

Ruler of the School Yard: "Team Senior Beta," comprised of members of the LCHS Senior Beta Club. The team captain was Kitty Ball.

Pack the Track Team: Martin's Crossroads Youth - Ages 0 to 99 and the "Lincoln Lifers '08." The Lincoln Lifers team was made up of cancer survivors in the county. Paula Henderson served as its captain.

Relay Church of the Year: Martin's Crossroads Youth - Ages 0 to 99.

Shooting Star Award: Brenda Danner-McGahee, Paula Henderson, and Linda Willgus.

Grand Club Member: Brenda Danner-McGahee, Linda Willgus, and Tawanda Cullars.

These three individuals raised over $1,000 each to support the ACS and its mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.

"What an amazing relay," commented Caldwell, ACS community manager. "I was so impressed with the leadership of our event co-chairmen, Brenda Danner McGahee and Travis Reid, and that of the other members of the executive committee as well. They put together a fantastic event that far exceeded any of our expectations.

"I'm also very thankful for our dedicated, hard-working team captains and participants, who were responsible for helping Lincoln County exceed its goal for the relay by $12,000!"

She went on to say, "Lincoln County is truly a community committed to the fight against cancer. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who supported this year's Relay for Life. Because of the caring people of this county, lives are being saved."

In closing, Caldwell said she was very honored to have had the opportunity to serve as the community manager for Lincoln County. "The residents of this county are truly remarkable."