Relay For Life held an event at Starmount High School’s football field on May 11. The all-night event featured survivor’s stories, caregiver’s stories, live entertainment, games and food. Allison Reeves, community manager for the American Cancer Society, said that she believes the organization reached its goal of $84,500 for the event.
Volunteers arrange luminaries to spell “hope” on the visitor’s bleachers at Starmount High School football field. The Relay for Life event started at 6 p.m. on May 11 and ended at 8 a.m. on May 12.
Cancer survivors are led by the Forbush High School JROTC in the survivor walk.
Tiki torches were attached to the gates lining the football field. Each torch represented a survivor or the memory of a family member lost to cancer. Family members lit the torches of their respective family members and then volunteers lit the luminaries that spelled out “hope” on the visitor’s bleachers at Starmount High School.
Relay for Life kicked off at 6 p.m. on Friday, with the JROTC from Forbush High School presenting colors, followed by the Starmount High School Show Choir singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The 2012 event chairs welcomed everyone, followed by Kevin Austin, county commissioner chairman, sharing the proclamation of May as Relay For Life Month in Yadkin County. Kendra Brannon shared her story as a melanoma survivor.
Then she and the New Day Band performed as the survivors walked their first lap followed by the caregiver lap. Then the teams began walking.
Throughout the evening, Mountain View Baptist Church Praise Band, Carolina Clogging Connection and TC Montana provided entertainment.
At dusk, all activity was halted as it held its Luminaria Ceremony. Relay began by lighting luminaria bags in honor of its loved ones. “Hope” was spelled out on the visitor bleachers and illuminated followed by the lighting of tiki torches lit by the family members. During the lighting of the torches, Eric Sparklin played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. All participants then proceeded to follow Sparklin around the track, in a silent lap, as he continued to play.
Late night activities, with much participation, included Zumba, karaoke, and the “trashy fashion show,” which consisted of garments made from trash bags, paper plates and other similar items.
There was also a frozen t-shirt contest, in which participants required to thaw a frozen t-shirt using nothing but their body. The first one to get it on was the winner.
Pancakes were then cooked, and breakfast began.
Mobile Jukebox provided music until closing ceremonies began around 7:15 a.m. Participants who left the night before came back for the closing ceremonies consisting of a caregiver speaker and soloist. The event ended at 8 a.m. with high Relay members having high hopes of exceeding our $84,500 goal for this year.
The group plans to have concrete numbers in about a week.
Anyone wishing to give to the cause, may do so by sending a check to: The American Cancer Society, Attn: Karlen Boring, 4 A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407. Memo - Yadkin County Relay For Life.
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