Cancer survivors Woodrow Padgett and his wife, Joe, are shown walking the Survivors' Victory Lap at the Eighth Annual Lincoln County American Cancer Society Relay for Life held April 24 and 25 at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex. Once again, the community pulled together to make the annual Lincoln County American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life a resounding success.

With a goal of $30,000, local residents labored for months to raise over $35,000 to help with the fight against cancer.

The grand finale of the fund-raising campaign was the relay, held Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, at the Curry Colvin Recreation Complex on Rowland-York Drive.

The 2009 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 10 teams, consisting of from eight to 15 people each, walked around the track to show support for the ACS and its mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.

The theme for the event was "Seasons of Hope." As a result, each team was charged with decorating its campsite to reflect a specific season of the year such as Christmas, the fourth of July, the "relay season," and so forth.

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

.. "The Courthouse Crew" (Lincoln County Courthouse employees), $4,842.36 — Brenda Danner McGahee and Linda Willgus, co-captains.

.. "Cancer Commandos" (Ebenezer Baptist Church), $3,861 — Judy Leverett and Debbie Tutt, co-captains.

.. "Martin's Crossroads Congregational Holiness Church — Ages 0 to 99," $2,921.50 — Hazel Poole and Renee Guthrie, co-captains.

Other teams participating in the relay were:

.. First Baptist Church — Nathaniel Leverett and Jeremy Latimer, co-captains.

.. "Lincoln Lifers '09" (comprised of cancer survivors in the county) — Paula Henderson and Sherry McKellar, co-captains.

.. "Pleasant Grove C.M.E. Fishers for a Cure" — Doris Blackwell, captain.

.. Mulberry C.M.E. Church — Rev. George Glenn and Travis Reid, cocaptains.

.. Price's Grove Baptist Church — Rachel Hearst and Pamela Savage, co-captains.

.. "St. Luke Saints" (St. Luke Baptist Church) — Kebearl Rivers, captain.

.. "Farmers State Bank Gang" — Melissa Burgess and Lauri Aycock, co-captains.

The monies raised by these teams 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 touched by cancer. The names of these special individuals were prominently displayed on the bags.

Another highlight of the evening was the "Balloons to Heaven" ceremony during which walkers and spectators released helium-filled balloons, containing notes to loved ones, into the twilight.

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, approximately 40 cancer survivors walked around the track, cheered on by family and friends.

According to Brenda Danner McGahee, co-chairman of the event, "The Survivors' Victory Lap was extremely special to me this year because my brother, Lamar Turner, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, got to participate."

The Victory Lap was likewise the most touching part of the relay for co-chairman Debbie Tutt. "In spite of their struggles with cancer, these people were out there walking with enthusiasm and smiles on their faces. They have survived the disease and really do embody the spirit of the relay."

Following the Survivors' Victory Lap, the Caregivers' Walk was held to recognize those individuals who offer their time, love, and support to cancer patients.

On a lighter note, the evening was also filled with a wonderful variety of entertainment, musical and otherwise; all kinds of food; and drawings for two "Hands and Hearts" quilts made by the team from Martin's Crossroads Congregational Holiness Church.

The winners of the quilts were Joy Ashmore and Clara Teasley.

The entertainment included the crowing of Ms. Relay 2009, Coy Joy Lewis (Little Roy Lewis). Other participants in the pageant were Trickey Mickey Wengrow (Michael Wengrow); Jackae Rickae Smalley (Jack Smalley); Boochea Hoochea Harris (Melvin Harris); and Scottisha Saline Dekreon (Scott Dekreon).

Serving as co-chairmen of the Eighth Annual Lincoln County ACS Relay for Life were Brenda Danner McGahee, Debbie Tutt, and Mary Lowe.

Other members of the executive committee were Linda Willgus, Sponsorship; Travis Reid and Tawanda Cullars, Luminaries and Team Recruitment; Paula Henderson, Survivorship; Renee Guthrie, Accounting; Melissa Burgess, Entertainment/Spirit; Sharon Bryan, Ms. Relay Pageant; Doris Blackwell, Kick-Off Planning; and Kenny Adair, Crawford Asbell, and Jill McKinney, Technology.

On behalf of the three co-chairmen, Brenda McGahee expressed her appreciation to all of the volunteers, the individual and corporate sponsors, the cancer survivors, the 10 teams, the executive committee, those who attended the relay, and the people of the county as a whole for making the event such a success.

"We are grateful for all of the support and help — one, two, or even 10 people can't do this — it takes everybody working together. It is overwhelming what a small community like Lincoln County can do when we come together."

McGahee concluded her remarks by pointing out that the 2009 Relay for Life would not have been possible without the individual and corporate sponsors, who contributed a total of $15,750 to help ensure a future without cancer.

The sponsors were:

Platinum Sponsors — Jeff and Sheri Easter, Fast Times Enterprises, Inc., and J & T Service Center, Inc.

Gold Sponsors — Cliatt Crossing, Farmers State Bank, the Georgia Power Company, H & H Industrial Maintenance, Wills Memorial Hospital, Rocking R International, Inc., and Morgan and Madison Easter, who made a donation in honor of their mother, Sheri Easter.

Silver Sponsors — Bell's Food Market, Newberry Missionary Baptist Church, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Radio Shack of Lincolnton, Rowland and Ware Auto Parts, Inc., the Rayle Electric Membership Corporation, Mattison and Associates, Inc., Lincolnton Feed and Seed, Wilkes Telephone and Electric Company, Lewis Bus Lines.

Big Country Surveying, Salem Baptist Church, El Portal Mexican Restaurant, First Assembly of God, Aycock Truck Parts, Wynn Masonry, Michelle R. Harrison — Attorney at Law, Pennington Paint & Body Shop, Lincolnton Animal Hospital, Huddle House of Lincolnton, Charles Owen, Inc., New Tabernacle Baptist Church, Bradley Trucking, Inc., Badcock Home Furnishings.

City Pharmacy, The City of Lincolnton, Lincoln County Government, Bethany United Methodist Church, Pine Grove UMC, Lincolnton UMC, Morningside Baptist Church, Top Grill, Wengrow Pest Control, Cox Brothers Builders, Alan Austin Remodeling & Repairs, Wee Wisdom Playschool, Milky Way Freeze Bar, Stokes Hodges of Thomson, and McCutcheon Heating & Air.

In-Kind Sponsors — Spratlin Hardware & Building Supply, Papa's Pizza, Down South Construction, Ernie Guthrie, and The Lincoln Journal.

In addition, several individuals and businesses also helped sponsor the tote bags that were presented to cancer survivors as they arrived at the relay. The total bag sponsors were:

Commercial Insurance Services, Inc., Goolsby's Store, Gregory M. Griffin, DMD, P.C., Hardee's of Lincolnton, Harmony Baptist Church, an individual who made a donation in honor of Allen Holloway, Johnson Equipment & Rental, Lee Builders, Inc.

Dr. Eric Larson of Lincoln Chiropractic, the Lincoln County Farm Bureau, Lincoln County Veterinary Services, Lincoln Loan Company, Lincolnton Auto Sales, LLC, the Lincolnton Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce.

Norman's Upholstery Shop, Reed Propane Gas Company, Inc., Southern Cleaning Products, Inc., Southern Line Services, Inc., State Farm Insurance, Universal Barber Shop, William T. McWhorter III, Inc., Price McWhorter, and the Twilight Improvement Association, Inc.

Others deserving special recognition for their assistance with the re- lay were Bill Turner, Lincoln County EMS, and the Lincoln County Information Technology Department.

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