By Staff
KISS ME n Keller Beasley, general manager of Old Navy, helps kick off a fund-raiser for Relay for Life with Meridian Police Chief Gregg Lewis, Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie and Meridian's Chief Administrative Officer Ken Storms. The three officials have agreed to kiss a horse for $5,000 in donations. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Kelly Quackenbush/The Meridian Star
March 29, 2001
Old Navy employees kicked off a Relay for Life fund-raiser to benefit the American Cancer Society Wednesday, as local officials agreed to "kiss a horse" for $5,000 donations.
Who, they said, would not pay to see that?
Old Navy employees are counting on members of the community to pay big bucks to see these public officials do just that Sheriff Billy Sollie, Police Chief Gregg Lewis and Ken Storms, Meridian's chief administrative officer.
Relay for Life events raise millions of dollars every year to help fund cancer research. The staff at Old Navy has participated in the local Relay for three years.
Beasley said Old Navy employees enjoy the opportunity to get involved with the community. Their team includes 15 Old Navy employees and 20-30 family members.
The "kiss a horse" idea came from the husband of Old Navy's operations manager, Rhonda Irwin. Bob Irwin is the fuel coordinator for Pump and Save.
Storms agreed.
Lewis said cancer is a disease that affects everybody in one way or another.
The Old Navy relay team will be accepting donations at these upcoming events: a bake sale at the Bonita Lakes Wal-Mart April 14; an employee car wash with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs at Mazingo's Garden Center May 26; and Old Navy customer fun day with popcorn, face painting and a clown at the Old Navy store June 2.
There will be donation boxes set up at the main lobby of the Meridian Police Department, Highland Cleaners, The Cleaners, Crystal Cleaners and the Old Navy store. Puppy paw prints will be available at all events for a donation of $2.
The "horse kissing" will take place the night of the 2001 Relay for Life, June 8-9.
Kelly Quackenbush is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at kquackenbush@themeridianstar.com.