By By Mary-Allison Lancaster Managing editor
Strap on those tennis shoes and get ready to walk the track because Relay for Life is just around the corner.
The 20th Annual Relay for Life is slated for noon on Sat., April 30. This year, the race will be at the YMCA instead of T.R. Miller High School. The YMCA has indoor capabilities and is a more feasible location in case of rain, said Paula Gerety, committee member.
The nationwide fundraising event helps raise money for the American Cancer Society.
The event kicks off its first fundraiser on Feb. 7 at the Country Club of Brewton, located at 700 Club House Road. The Mardi Gras Supper begins at 6 p.m. and those involved can participate in a silent and live auction. Tickets for the supper cost $25.
St. Maurice Catholic Church and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church will be offering babysitting for the Mardi Gras Supper, Gerety said.
More than $45,000 was raised in Brewton, Eastern Escambia County's Relay for Life. The most the event has raised was $70,000 which was five years ago. Gerety said the reason they changed the time this year was to get more people involved and raise more money for the American Cancer Society.
Each year, different teams set up campsites and decorate according to a theme. Gerety said the event is to honor survivors and remember those who did not survive.
At the moment, committee members are trying to recruit more members. Anyone interested can contact Gerety at 867-5418 or a Relay for Life member. Team captains will meet the second Thursday of every month at noon at the YMCA.
Hayley McCannon is in charge of team recruitment and can be contacted at 809-3592. Existing members are also looking for more sponsors. Wendy Bass is in charge of sponsorship and can be contacted at 809-0268.
Current Relay for Life team members can be found at the following places: