Relay for Life benefit helps fight cancer
To the Editor:
The annual American Cancer program, Relay for Life, was held June 7 and 8 on the track at Marion Stadium.
The 12-hour event began on Friday evening with the survivor's lap. This lap is to honor all those who have had cancer or who are now in treatment or fighting cancer.
Several of the survivors have walked in this event for several years and some of them joined the survivors lap for the first time. The survivor's lap this year also had two four-year olds from the Burns community, Joshua Morgan and Jessie Roth.
The survivors come from all over Marion County. Each survivor is given a special T-shirt to emphasize to the public that they are a cancer survivor.
This year's event featured 11 teams which are made up of 12 to 15 volunteers on each team who solicit for donations to the American Cancer Society. For a donation of $10, a luminary can be designated in honor of a survivor or in memory of a deceased cancer fighter.
The team members for each team tries to raise the most money as an individual and for their team. The individual who receives the most donations is recognized and given a traveling trophy for their accomplishment. The team that collectively raises the most money is recognized and receives a traveling team trophy.
This year Margie Sandwell of the Baldwin Law Team (formerly known as the Wheeler Walkers) won the individual trophy and the Baldwin Law Team won the team trophy by collecting approximately $2,700 in donations for (mostly) luminaries.
The event has many corporate sponsors being local businesses from the Marion and Hillsboro areas. Each volunteer who raises $75 in donations receives a Relay for Life T-shirt with the logo on the front of the shirt and the corporate sponsors listed on the back of the shirt.
The event for 2002 raised approximately $15,700 for the American Cancer Society. Unfortunately this amount is considerably less than the prior year.
The event takes many volunteers and lots of donation of time by individuals who comprise a committee. The committee chairman is Jan Helmer with the great assistance of Elaine Janzen and several other individuals from the Marion and Hillsboro communities who are dedicated supporters of the Relay for Life program.
The Marion and Hillsboro communities have been very supportive. The event had been held at the Tabor College track for a number of years and it was decided to come to Marion this year. There are always difficulties when a change is made. There are pros and cons for each track. The lighting of the luminaries is always a challenge each year with the number of them and the windy conditions. There are approximately 1,000 luminaries each year.
We wish to extend our thanks to everyone who participated, who donated their time and efforts, the financial support of the business, and most of all to those who make donations to the American Cancer Society hoping that some day cancer will be wiped out and there are no more tears or suffering caused by this dread disease.
The Baldwin Law Team wishes to extend personal thanks to all who made donations to us making it possible for us to retain the "team trophy" for another year.
The team members for 2002 were Dan and Laura Baldwin, Charla Wheeler, Kenny and Margie Sandwell, Kerry Sandwell, Kathy Koop, Diane Sams, Sharon Andes, Donna Boone Avery, Brenda Bernhardt, Paula Emerson, Tera Switzer, Lee and Michelle Becker, Becky and Gary Evans, and Maggie Meisinger.
Maggie Meisinger and
Marge Sandwell
