West, McMinnville Electric ?link-up? for Relay for Life

Fifth-grade students in Kathie Hodges? class, from left, Serena Francis and Breanna Mount march around the school gymnasium during presentation of their chain.

The local Relay for Life event will be Friday, June 1 beginning at 6 p.m. with activities running throughout the night until 6 a.m. Saturday. All activities will be held at Nunley Stadium at the Warren County Middle School.

Fundraising efforts take on a new life during Relay time, with hundreds of people getting involved in a plethora of activities. Many businesses and individuals sponsor teams and work together toward a common goal. This year there are 62 teams participating and working hard to reach the goal of $140,000.

McMinnville Electric System is one of the businesses actively working with Relay for Life. This particular year, they had help from the younger set ? students from West Elementary. They just happen to be Partners in Education with the school, and were contacted by principal Marsha Newman offering their assistance in raising funds.

?West is thrilled to ?link-up? with MES. I am not surprised by the generosity of our students and families, I am surprised at the magnitude of the generosity,? said Newman.

Her students decided to sell links to family and friends for 25 cents each to construct a red and white paper chain. Of course, it turned into a competition of classes, which took off and ultimately involved every student. The school raised for MES?s Relay for Life team a grand total of $2077.50.

?This wonderful chain will be displayed at Relay for Life, draping around the fence, to showcase the hard work and dedication of the West students. It will applaud the commitment of our partnership to help the community,? said Jane Flatt, MES representative.

Class winners include: Tammy Byars? third-grade overall winner selling 1,025 links, Kathie Hodge?s fifth-grade selling 964 links, Jacqueline Hayes? fourth grade selling 879 links, Alpha Rhea?s first grade selling 610 links, Janice Marcum?s second grade selling 563 links and Beth Johnson?s kindergarten selling 435 links.

Each class was awarded an ice cream party, with the overall winner receiving a pizza party from MES.

Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivors and raise money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society. The event represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, and that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.

?We are proud to assist in the fight against cancer, honor all of the cancer survivors, an remember those who were overcome with the disease,? said Newman.