Vance turns out for Relay for Life

Relay for Life Survivor’s Walk

The Relay for Life kicked off at 7:00 p.m. on Friday with an invocation by Joanne Allen of Divine Habitation Ministries.

Leanna Norwood, a seventh grade math teacher at Eaton-Johnson Middle School offered words of inspiration for those newly diagnosed with cancer.

Norwood told participants that she was lucky, because if she had been diagnosed earlier, she would not be here. She said that we now have technology, skilled personnel, medicine, and knowledge to combat the disease.

Cindy Robinson, Chairperson of the Vance County Relay for Life

Cindy Robinson, the Chairperson of the event, said that “we will walk all night because cancer never sleeps.” She said that the Relay for Life weekend would make a difference in someone’s life.

Kim Yeates presented three special Survivor Awards:

Mildred Shearin, Longevity Award for 52 cancer-free years

Eunice Anstead, 90, Oldest Survivor

Ashlyn Reavis, 13, Youngest Survivor Award

The awards were followed by the Survivor’s Walk.

Luminary

Dottie Crocker spoke before the Luminary Ceremony which began around 9:00 p.m. on Friday.

According to Robinson, not only will this year’s goal of $186,000 be met, but she believes that $200,000 will be raised for cancer research by the end of June.

By the time Home in Henderson left the Relay at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, over $151,000 had been raised.

Robinson reported that 480 survivors had been registered. Last year, 402 survivors were registered. For Robinson, that represents progress.

42 teams participated in the landmark annual fund-raising event.

One team, the Relay for Life Bike Ride for Gayle Pendergrass raised over $3,000. Headed up by Paula Kearney and Vernon Pendergrass, they held their second annual bike ride on May 19 of this year. Their ride started at Brewer’s Cycles and ended at the Kerr Lake Campground, covering about 85 miles with stops along the way.

There were 68 committee members working diligently to run the 24 hour endurance fund-raiser. Robinson reported that this is the largest committee out of all the counties in North Carolina that hold a Relay for Life.

Around midnight, a Living Christmas Tree contest was held in keeping with the Christmas in June theme of the event.

Living Christmas Tree Contest judges

In a new offering this year, realty company Remax gave vertical hot air balloon rides.