By By Lisa Tindell
news editor
Cheers, applause and even tears were plentiful Saturday as cancer survivors opened the festivities of the 2009 Relay for Life event to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Community Chairperson Allison Faircloth introduced two-time cancer survivor Doris Faulk as she cut the ribbon to open the path for other survivors.
Twelve active teams took their place around the campus of the Greater Brewton Area YMCA with colorful campsites and plenty of activities for participants, guest and members of the community.
Sharon Peacock served as team captain for the Jefferson Davis Community College and ViSalus teams and said she has a passion for the Relay experience and what it means.
Peacock said she also wants to work toward raising money that will help fund research that will someday find a cure for the dreaded disease.
The experience of witnessing the tenacity of survivors at the event put many things into prospective for Jeff Joyce, general manager of Georgia-Pacific, title sponsor for the event.
Events were scheduled throughout the evening with closing ceremonies at midnight. The annual luminaria was held to pay honor to those who are survivors of cancer and to those who lost their battle with the disease.
A $38,000 goal was set for this year’s event, Faircloth said. Final totals will be available next week.
Teams participating in the 2009 Relay for Life event were: BankTrust — Christy Black, captain; Comfort Care Hospice — Ruthie Cooper, captain; The Escambia County Courthouse Disco Hippies — Carla Redfearn, captain; Jefferson Davis Community College – Sharon Peacock, captain; T.R. Miller High School  Gina McIntyre, captain; Team Aleigh Huff – Aleigh Huff, captain; The Brewton Medical Center – Tiffany Shipp, captain; The Cruisers of Georgia Pacific – Brenda Kern, captain; Verobella Girls — LaDonna Newman, captain; ViSalus — Sharon Peacock, captain; Wal-Mart — Bobbie Ryals, captain; and W.S. Neal High School — Michael Stallworth, captain.
The 2009 planning committee for the event was Marcia DeGraaf, Brenda Kern, Wendi Huff, Sharon Peacock, Bobbie Ryals, Kim Dunn, Robin Allen, Ramona Thomas, Savannah Agerton, Doris Faulk, Verna Herdman, Linda Fuqua, Ronnie Fuqua, Kyle Buck, Steven Dickey, Vivian Layton and Lisa Tindell.
Event sponsors were: Presenting/Title sponsor — Georgia Pacific; Paint the Town Purple sponsor — BankTrust; Cure sponsors — Greater Brewton Area Lions Club, WOW Café and Wingery, Wal-Mart, Gulf Coast Cancer Centers; Hope sponsors — Suzanne Kirby, First United Methodist Church, D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital; Friend of Relay — Jus Do and G & E Machine Works, Inc.