By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
Donna Newman felt she needed to do something.
With her mother battling lymphoma, Newman turned to her co-workers at Verobella, and together the friends formed the salon’s first Relay For Life team last year, helping raise money for the American Cancer Society.
The local Relay for Life group held a kickoff Tuesday evening to welcome new teams and register veterans for next year’s fund-raising event, which will increase its goal to $66,000.
Relay for Life is an event designed to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and its cancer research and support programs. Teams throughout the community raise funds at various events — from raffles to cake contests — and come together on one day to walk a small track in honor of cancer survivors and victims.
This year’s local fund-raising goal is $66,000, which Peacock said was a stretch from last year’s goal of $50,000 but doable.
The group also hopes to increase its number of teams to 25 and to collect items for Hope Lodge in Birmingham, which provides free housing for families of patients receiving cancer treatment.
Beth Billy, whose family used Hope Lodge when her young son was receiving cancer treatment in Birmingham, said the facility was a home away from home when she needed it most.
Helping Hope Lodge is important, Billy said, because “you are giving people strength. You are giving people hope.”
In addition to the collection for Hope Lodge, there are other changes in store for this year’s Relay, including offering more activities for children, Peacock said.
The theme this year is “Cancerbury Tales in the Power of Purple,” a medieval theme.
The Relay for Life event will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 1, on the front lawn of the Brewton Area YMCA.
Anyone interested in volunteering or registering a team can contact Peacock at 809-4845 or by e-mail at sharonpeacock@hotmail.com.