Fun on the lunch menu

'Leprechaun' Sylvia Pinson offers the top of the mornin' to her customers -- and a top-off on their glasses of tea.
(T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

No, it wasn't the beginning of a bad joke -- it was the beginning of a great time. The Celebrity Waiter luncheon held at the Blue Ribbon Circle, sponsored by Heritage Medical Center Wednesday, was a major fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life -- and a major source of fun. Donors and guests were served a Tuscany chicken salad by waiters they are more familiar with in other surroundings. Business leaders, civic leaders, elected officials and those who are trying to be elected officials all took their turns filling glasses and removing dishes.

While some of the celebrity waiters opted for formal waiter attire, such as Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray and Tom Fuller in their snappy tuxes, others went for fun and frivolous. There were nuns, a baby, a leprechaun, a native American, and a Hawaiian beach bum, to name a few. Even the guests got into the spirit of the day, with School Superintendent Ed Gray showing up as a priest.

Auction action

As they worked, members of Craig & Wheeler Realty and Auction auctioned off donated items that ranged from gift baskets to a guitar autographed by Brad Paisley and former Songwriter of the Year Rory Bourke ('The Most Beautiful Girl in the World').

Almost every item brought in more than $100 which was good news for the organizers.

"I don't think we spent more than $300 to put it on," said Judi Burton, co-chair for the Bedford County Relay for Life. "Everyone was so wonderful, donating so many things."

She said well over 300 people attended the event, which raises money for cancer research and awareness, as well as assistance to cancer patients and their families.

"I was very pleased -- I was just so excited we had such an awesome turnout," she said.

In a previous interview, 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.

The goal for Bedford County Relay for Life this year has been set at $125,000. The Relay For Life walk, the campaign's highlight, will be held June 4 at the Celebration grounds. It will be an overnight walk, said Burton previously.

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

Special thanks

Among those giving to the Celebrity Waiters event were Heritage Medical Center, Celebrations, Tyson, Taylor Farms, Walmart Distribution Center, Suzanne Byrom & Kitchen Crew, Tony Rice Center, Krogers, Beverly Hewitt, Walking Horse Hotel, Naturally Fresh, Bedford County Ag Center, and Craig & Wheeler.

Table sponsors included Heritage Medical Center, Blankenship United Methodist Church, Bob, Hunt, White & Nance, Dabora, Tyson, Celebrations, Sylvia Pinson, Peoples Bank, Wartrace Warriors, Ilene industries, Barry Childress, Pleasant Grove Relayers. Steve and Melanie Sliger, Professional Pest Management, David Crowell, Fit Club, Heritage Jeweler, Sheila Bobo, Snazzy Nazzy's, Traders Bank, Cindy Day Relay Team, Bob Parks Realty, Henry Feldhaus, Elite Therapy, First Community Bank. Wyatt Burk, Wholesale Paint, Danny Law and Cooper Steel.

The celebrity waiters were Dan Buckner, Eugene Ray, Todd Bobo, Tom Fuller, Jerry Lankford, Doyle Meadows, Sylvia Pinson, Jason McGee, Dave Evans, Ray Smith, Ron Bell, Bob Finney, Rod Stacy, Mandy DeCosta, Debbie Brown, Lee Jett, Shelby Wilson, Cliff Hirst, Sheila Bobo, Sheila Roarke, Cindy Day, Thomas Smith, Laura Grissom, Henry Feldhaus, Kasey Parsons, Scott Cocanougher, Tonya Davis, Willie Nelson, Noel White, Laura McGee and Gina Vannatta.

How to help

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.