By By Lisa Tindell
News Editor
Community involvement in the Relay for Life 2009 event is responsible for 149 percent of a $38,000 goal being met. Allison Faircloth, ACS Community Coordinator, said goal was met and passed during bank night held prior to the event.
Marcia DeGraaf, who served as a co-coordinator for the event, said community involvement may have contributed to the success of the event.
Teams held raffles on Relay day and contests were held that also generated additional contributions, DeGraaf said.
An increase in participation was also seen in the Survivors Dinner held Friday prior to Saturday’s main event.
DeGraaf said the hosts for the dinner were well prepared for the event and did a good job of honoring survivors who attended.
DeGraaf said one of the main reasons to hold the annual Relay event is to honor survivors and ensure more cancer victims survive.
DeGraaf expressed thanks to sponsors, teams, committee members and the community for making Relay the success that it was this year.
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.