By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Wendi Huff doesn't want anyone else to endure the statistics her family has experienced with cancer.
So she raises money for - and awareness about - cancer research through the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life.
Huff, the chairman of next year's event in Brewton, kicked off the Relay For Life fund-raising campaign Thursday night along with fellow committee members and team captains.
The kickoff, sponsored by Southern Pine Electric Cooperative and held at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital, was a chance to honor last year's participants and prepare for the coming year.
Relay For Life is an 18-hour fund-raising event in which teams participate to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Before the April 28 event, teams will hold individual fund-raisers as well.
Huff said Relay For Life is held at night &#8220because cancer never sleeps.”
At the kickoff, Relay For Life co-chairman Marcia DeGraaf thanked participants for their volunteer work.
Last year, Relay For Life in Brewton raised $58,000 - or $4.03 per capita, making Brewton one of the top 20 per capita fund-raising events in the state, said Ginger Caylor of the American Cancer Society.
Caylor also presented the outstanding volunteer award to Paula Gerety and the patient services award to DeGraaf.
Southern Pine's Jeff Kirkland said his company is proud to be title sponsor for the event.
The next Relay For Life team captains meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at D.W. McMillan.
For information, contact DeGraaf at 251-809-8309 or mdegraaf@dwnnh.org; Huff at 251-867-7592 or 251-363-1516 or wendihuff@bellsouth.net; or Caylor at 251-578-5962 or ginger.caylor@cancer.org.