Published: 1:54 PM, 11/20/2009

Last updated: 12:52 PM, 11/30/2009

By: staff reports

Representatives of the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Watauga County recently attended the regional Relay For Life Leadership Conference, where results of the 2009 fund-raising campaign (fiscal year ending August 31) were announced.

"We are thrilled to announce that the Watauga Relay placed number 2 in the nation for amount of money raised for our population group," said Sharon Trivette, Co-Chair of the event.  "With approximately 5,000 Relay For Life events being held in the U.S., this is a great achievement.  Watauga County's generous donors and corporate sponsors helped push our Relay from #6 last year up to the #2 spot!"  Relay organizers find this to be especially gratifying in the current economic climate.

"During our kick-off event last March, we told our 100+ team captains, 'Cancer doesn't care about the economy," said Trivette, "and Watauga residents responded by showing that they care about beating cancer.  This is a fight that Watauga County is committed to, as evidenced by the fact that we have been one of the top ten fund-raising communities in the country for the past 11 years, five times as number one!"

The 2009 total of $260,739.39 is up from $251,555.01 in 2008.  The total amount raised here includes $25,717 raised by the Appalachian State University Relay For Life, which was held in April, and is sponsored by the campus group, Colleges Against Cancer.  That amount garnered the ASU event an award for most growth by a campus Relay.
 
Other awards received at the Leadership Conference include the prestigious Power of Hope Award, which the Watauga County Relay For Life was given for having the most survivor participation in the country, with 751 cancer survivors involved.  Watauga County has received this award for five years in a row.  The Watauga Relay also received an award for having 100% school participation.  Every school in the county had one or more Relay For Life teams.

Fifty of the 74 teams that participated in the 2009 Watauga Relay will receive All-Star Awards from the American Cancer Society.  These awards are based on amount raised per team member.  The top two individual money raisers were Della Presnell, with $9,857 (#1 for 6 years) and Gail Gross, with $3,646. The top child was Colby Warren for the second year in a row, with $1,327.  The top teams were Friends For Life, BACC Walking with Spirit, First Baptist Church Crusaders, Ted's Troop, Cove Creek Relay Raiders, Howard's Creek Searchers, Jerry's Intimidators, Weaver Warriors and Tilson's Tumor Terminators.

"We are very proud of the Relay For Life volunteers in Watauga County," said Sheila Pait, American Cancer Society Staff Partner with the South Atlantic Division.  "Everyone works so hard to make this event successful, year after year.  Achieving a high national ranking like this one is proof that their work is being recognized."

Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight event that mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones and raise money for the fight against cancer.  Teams of 8 - 15 members gather with tents and sleeping bags to participate in the largest fundraising event in the nation.

"The funds raised through Relay For Life events enable us to continue our investment in the fight against cancer through research, education, advocacy and patient services," added Pait. "Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and donors, the money raised by Relay For Life participants goes directly to the American Cancer Society's lifesaving programs."

Information about how to form a team or become involved in Relay For Life is available at  www.relayforlife.org or by calling Sharon Trivette (297-1691) or Kathy Idol (264-5240).  Plans are currently underway for the 2010 Watauga County Relay For Life, with a Kick-Off event scheduled for March 8.  Several key Committee positions are vacant for the coming year.  Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to call for more information.  Volunteers are always welcome.  The Watauga County Relay For Life will be held June 18 - 19, 2010, at Watauga High School.

For more in-depth coverage, see the latest print edition of the Watauga Democrat, available at hundreds of locations across the High Country.

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