Relay campaign kicks off

Judi Burton thanks cancer survivors, patients and caregivers for their support and asks for their continued dedication to this year's Relay For Life campaign. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Order this photo]

Bedford County Relay For Life organizers came together last week for the 2010 kickoff of the campaign for the county's single largest annual fundraisers.

A birthday party was the icing on the kickoff's cake.

"To most people, birthdays are just a reminder that they're getting older," said co-chair Judi Burton to folks attending the kickoff, held at the Blue Ribbon Club on the Celebration grounds. "But at the American Cancer Society, 'Happy Birthday' is a victory song, because a world with less cancer is a world with more birthdays. And that is something to celebrate, isn't it?"

New goals

Burton thanked those in attendance, comprised of cancer survivors, patients, caregivers and others, for supporting the largest single fundraising event in the world, and also locally, and updated them on plans for this year's campaign.

"Our goal in 2010 is to raise $125,000 and we hope that with your help and the support of the community we will reach our goal," she said. "In this time of economical uncertainty there is one thing we can count on ... cancer patients need us now more than ever."

Burton said in an earlier interview that the reason for the campaign is to get people on board the event.

This year, the Relay For Life walk, the campaign's highlight, will be held June 4 at the Celebration grounds, which is centrally located, Burton said.

"It's an overnight walk," she said. "Cancer patients don't sleep so we can give up one night of our sleep for them."

Last year $106,000 was raised through the relay walk and several other events held throughout the year, including the longtime fundraiser Hee Haw and Howdy, the Celebrity Waiter Luncheon (held in August), and other events. This year, Burton said group fundraisers for the campaign will also include a community yard sale, and proceeds from the sales of a local cookbook, comprised of recipes in memory or in honor of local folks who fought cancer.

Much of the total proceeds come from teams, who raise money together and individually. These funds are turned in after the June overnight walk.

Teams needed

"How are we going to get to $125,000?" Burton said. "With teams, teams, teams and work, work, work."

Burton and co-chair Sonja Worthington are aiming for 30 teams, comprised of up to 15 members this year, which is about six more than last year. In particular, they are looking for church teams to sign up, which has been lighter in the past, they said.

Team captains meet the second Monday of each month, Burton said, and new teams can join in anytime.

Teams raise money through group efforts and as individuals. Some of the long-time teams' more well-known group fundraisers include the Bob Parks Realty Golf Tournament (they are having a bowling tournament this year, as well) and the Wheelbilly team's Womenless Pageant, which is always a big hit. Other group fundraisers that Burton knows about as of now include the Wartrace Warriors candidate's bake off. This group will also be selling pecans.

Burton's team this year is called The Relay Addicts and they have planned several fundraisers, including an outhouse race, a motorcycle ride and a big trail ride with live music and dinner, to be held later this month.

Individual teams have raised as much as $25,000 for the local campaign.

Co-chairs

Burton has been a long-time supporter of the race. She has been a co-chair in the past and this year is rotating back in, with Worthington, after Wendy Stacy and Samantha Chamblee, who just completed their three-year rotation, step back.

"I lost my mother to cancer and I have lost a lot of dear friends to cancer," said Burton, when asked how she first became involved.. "With the work we're doing now we are seeing so many more survivors."

How it began

On Monday, Burton reminded Relay supporters of how the campaign began.

"The American Cancer Society Relay For Life began 25 years ago with one man in Tacoma, Wash., Dr. Gordy Klatt, who walked and ran around a track for 24 hours to raise money for (ACS)," she said. "Twenty-five years later American Cancer Society Relay For Life has raised over $3 billion. Can you believe that?"

Locally, the Relay campaign started about 20 years ago. Burton said Mary Jo Reynolds and Martha Deason were the pioneers of Bedford County who got it all started.

"It just gets bigger and bigger every year," she said.

Local stats

Burton said many people don't realize that money raised for the ACS through Bedford County Relay For Life helps local cancer patients.

Last year, according to Harriett Stewart, a community representative of the ACS, 54 Bedford County cancer patients received 98 services from the ACS, such as assistance with gasoline for doctor's appointments or a new wig.

In surrounding counties, like Moore, Lincoln and Marshall, 97 patients received 183 services.

Twelve Bedford Countians stayed a total of 116 nights at Hope Lodge, a support lodge for cancer patients in Nashville, at no charge.

"To estimate the value of one night's stay, the average hotel room is approximately $125 per night, which totals $14,500 services directly received by Bedford residents," said Stewart, in an e-mail to the Times-Gazette. "We also have Transportation Grants at most hospitals as well as donated gasoline cards we also give to patients needing assistance."

Trips to treatment were provided for four local patients.

ACS also offers scholarships for cancer survivors going to college and sends youngsters to Camp Horizon, a week-long camp for kids with cancer.

"Here's the most interesting and fulfilling fact for me," Stewart said. "Last year, Tennessee raised $9.2 million in Relay dollars, but we spent $10.6 million in research -- just in Tennessee. To me, that's pretty local."

Both ladies emphasized the importance of spending dollars raised on research so that a cure can be found.

Special thanks

Burton wished to give credit to several folks, including the corporate sponsors of the event, Heritage Sanford, Alcan and Titan Transfer. Individually, she offered thanks to folks who've gone above and beyond the call of duty over the years to help during the night of the Relay, including Mike Shockey of Mike's Towing, Jeff Pitts of Preferred Glass, Morris Williams of T&M Market, L&M Awards, Patti and David Hart and Clyde and Annette Bomar.

For more information about the Relay For Life of Bedford County, to register a team, or to serve as a volunteer, contact Sonja Worthington at 205-1569 or Judi Burton at 607-6035. For cancer information 24 hours a day, call (800) 227-2345 or go to www.cancer.org.