All-night fund-raiser benefits cancer society
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Relay for Life is one of the American Cancer Society’s signature events. Communities all over the country participate in the fund-raiser which began with Gordon Klatt’s 24-hour marathon around a Tacoma, Wash., track in 1985. Klatt raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society that year, and the following year, 340 supporters joined him for the overnight event and the Relay for Life was born.
According to Carole Cathcart, local co-chair along with Mike Steakley, ACS community representative Maggie Gardner will be on hand at the meeting to help local volunteers prepare for the first Relay for Life event to be held in Warren County. Gardner will present a video and answer any questions volunteers may have.
Relay for Life is a community event. Anyone and everyone can participate. Teams of 10 to 15 people are formed from businesses, clubs, families, friends, hospitals, churches, schools and service organizations. During the event, team members take turns walking on the track and camping out overnight. Each participant is encouraged to raise at least $100 for the American Cancer Society.
“Volunteers are needed,” says Cathcart, who encourages everyone who can to attend the organizational meeting.
Getting ready for Warren County’s Relay for Life event, to be held in 2003, will require a lot of preparation and planning according to Cathcart. Cathcart, a third-grade teacher at Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary, got involved earlier in the year.
“The Cancer Society asked for volunteers back in the summer. I went to the meeting and was told I had the personality to orchestrate this event,” she said. “I’m kind of an in-your-face person,” she added, smiling.
But even though volunteerism is in her soul, Cathcart has some personal reasons for getting involved.
“Cancer has touched my life in a very personal way,” she said. “My mother-in-law, Melba Cathcart, lost a brave battle with breast cancer in 1991. A dear cousin, Melba Dodson, died in 1998 with pancreatic cancer. And our youth minister at Westwood, Mike Steakley, was diagnosed with a brain tumor this past January. I knew then I wanted to be an active participant in the fight against cancer.”
In fact, Cathcart contacted Steakley and asked him if he would act as co-chairman of the event, to which he readily agreed. Although the main goal is to raise money, Cathcart noted there are other goals as well.
“We want to have a successful event to not only raise awareness, but to offer hope and encouragement to those who are battling the disease themselves or who have had loved ones they would like to honor,” she said.
To volunteer or to get more information, talk to Mike Steakley or call Carole Cathcart, evenings, at 473-8588.