Relay For Life Team

One person can make a difference. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life, began in Tacoma, Washington, in 1985. Dr. Gordy Klatt spent 24 hours circling the University of Puget Sound Baker Stadium traveling more than 83 miles in an effort to help raise money for the fight against cancer. During the night more than 300 friends, family, and patients watched as he ran/walked the track. At the close of the event Dr. Klatt had raised $27,000 to fight cancer.

During that 24-hours, Dr. Klatt's thought about how others could take part in such an event. In 1986 his vision of a 24-hour team relay event became at reality at the historical Stadium Bowl. The event raised $33,000 for the fight against cancer. The spirit of this first event has spread around the world with Relays operating or planned in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and even Williams County Ohio.

The 15th Williams County American Cancer Society Relay For Life event was held June 25-26, 2010, at the Williams County Fairgrounds in Montpelier, Ohio, USA. Bard Team members were Teresa Votaw-Team Captain, Jill Barnd, Hope Cogswell, Robin Herman, Ruth Ann Johnson, JoAnn Luce, Jeni Leppelmeier, Chuck Moore, Courtney Perkins, Greta Perkins, Nick Schriner, and Pam Steel. Relay Teams arrived on Friday night to stake out their space around the fairground complex and prepared for the 18-hours of walking the track and continued fund raising. Activities throughout the event, like continuous music, theme camp-sites, theme laps, and the ever popular Miss Relay competition.

The Bard Relay Team pre-event fund raising efforts throughout the year were Relay For Life candy bars, office 'Friday jean days,' and gallons of Pence's world famous popcorn and carmel corm.  At the Relay event participants had opportunities to sample the Bard Team's culinary skills of deep fried chicken strips and french fries prepared on-site.

The Bard Relay For Life Team continued to maintain the 2010 Silver fund raising level with the team contributing just under $5,000 for the event. At the close of the evening, the 15th Wms County Relay for Life surpassed its goal and raised $122,674.00 with monies still being collected.

Part of the weekend ceremonies was the luminary. At 10:00pm the fair grounds was darkened and all of the candles in honor/memory of those with cancer were lit. A prayer was spoken and the names of those in memory, those battling, and those surviving cancer were read. All those at the event made a lap

At the close of the event the 30 Relay Teams completed one final lap together. A closing prayer was spoken, a poem was read, and everyone released balloons to represent the prayer for those that have passed, those that are battling, and those that have survived cancer.

How can you participate? There are events around the world bringing together people from all walks of life for a common goal - eliminating cancer. No matter who you are, where you are from - you can help.

• Become a Team Captain: While one person can make a difference, the strength of people coming together can make even a bigger difference. Pull together your friends, family, business associates, and even total strangers for a Relay Team.

• Become a Donor/Sponsor: Individuals and Corporations can make monetary contributions, provide Relay support with man power, food, and physical resources.

• Become a Event Volunteer: Relay For Life is a gathering of a community. EVERYONE can participate in the fight against cancer - before, during, and after the Relay. Events take a lot of planning, coordination, and promotion before and during the event. Your manpower and time can contribute to the success of the event - even if for only a few hours.

• Participate in Survivorship Activities: As a cancer survivor you can show your strength and courage to the community that cancer survivorship is real, that progress is being made in the fight against cancer. As an honorary guest, join the 'Survivors Lap' at the beginning of the Relay For Life event.

More information on the Relay For Life events or the fight against cancer is available at the American Cancer Society's web site.