Survivors are ready to launch the 2005 Relay for Life at Southern Vance High School on Friday.
Vance County’s 11th annual Relay for Life began Friday afternoon at Southern Vance High School.
The American Cancer Society fundraiser runs for 24 hours — to represent the 24-hour-a-day struggle against cancer — around the school’s track. Each registered team is supposed to have at least one member on the track at all times.
Jane Haithcock and Kathy Pierce are the chairwomen for the Vance Relay this year.
Jane Haithcock and Kathy Pierce are this year’s event chairs.
In the formal opening ceremony, Pierce praised the large crowd for the “sheer number of people from all walks of life” participating in the event. She credited them for giving hope, a powerful weapon in the fight against cancer.
Mayor Clem Seifert praises the courage of cancer survivors while talking about his wife’s losing battle with cancer.
Henderson Mayor Clem Seifert addressed the crowd about his own experiences with cancer in the past year. In September, his wife, Matilda, died of cancer. He pointed to the assembled survivors as examples of the “bravest, most courageous, most resilient people you will ever, ever meet.”
Showing what Relay is all about, a huge crowd of survivors gathers for a lap around the Southern Vance track.
“Everyone who sees a survivor should take a little piece of them and take a little bit of their attitude, of their hope and of their outlook on life,” the mayor said.
A little boy appears to offer his help in opening the survivors lap.
His message was not lost on the crowd. The survivors received a standing ovation, cheers and flowers along the entire length of the track.
Nonstop cheers and applause greet survivors as they walk around the track.
Events run throughout the night and end at 3 p.m. Today’s highlights include:
8-8:30 — The Rev. Frank Sossamon
9:15-9:45 — Banner contest and lap
10-10:30 — Caregiver ceremony and lap
11:15-noon — Crowning the king, queen, prince and princess of Relay 2005
12:15-12:45 — Anthony McGhee’s Gospel Group
1-1:30 — Solo performer Jamie Lassiter
Relay for Life Cancer Control will host three cancer doctors as well. Each doctor will speak from approximately 15 to 20 minutes and will be available to answer questions. The lineup:
10 a.m. — Dr. Donald Serrafin, plastic surgeon; skin screenings.
11 a.m. — Dr. Franklin Mills, family medicine; colon cancer.
Noon — Dr. Adrian Ogle, urologist; prostate cancer.
Sunscreen will be available to all participants.
Written by Brad Breece