Relay for Life raises nearly $100,000

Delicious food choices were available from vendors throughout the night at Relay. Olivia Majors happily serves an apple covered in caramel sauce.

The 12-hour marathon is dedicated to the fight against cancer and raised around $100,000.

?More donations are coming in,? said volunteer Nancy McNeal. ?We had $98,000 at the close of the event Saturday morning, and are expecting more. How much, is hard to say.?

Actually getting the event started proved to be a trial for logistics person Emily Panter. Her job is to get the site set up and make sure participants have everything they need for their booths. Mother Nature did not cooperate as they were trying to get started Thursday.

?We had tents down, our video screen was blown around and had lots of standing rain and mud,? said Panter. She has been involved in the event for all four years, and logistic person for the past three.

?Overall, everything went well, even though we had our moments. I know I could not have done my job without the assistance of the city of McMinnville, MES, Civic Center and the middle school. We have so many volunteers that make the night a success, it?s unbelievable,? said Panter.

Perhaps the highlight of the night is the ?survivor lap? of the walk completed by survivors of the disease. They take the first lap and are then joined by friends, family members and volunteers.

A video featuring cancer victims and survivors was organized this year and served as a poignant point of the night. It was followed by the lighting of the memorial luminaries.

?It?s so inspiring to experience the togetherness of the community in an event like this. The community becomes very focused in helping other people. It?s hard to estimate just how many people are involved, but we know it?s hundreds and we appreciate each and every one,? concluded McNeal.