By Staff
GETTING READY Members of the Great Southern National Bank of Quitman's team for the Clarke County Relay For Life are pictured packing relay T-shirts for tonight's event. The members are, from left, Sherry Hutto, Marilyn Graham, bank president Robert Smith, Cindy Nichols, Dianne Holloman, Shelia Chancelor and Jennifer Hiatt. Photo by Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
April 27, 2001
QUITMAN Over the last four years, Clarke County Relay For Life volunteers have never set a fund-raising goal, but no one has complained about the results.
Relay For Life is a nationwide fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society. No one knew what to expect at the first Relay For Life four years ago, and everyone was pleased when the effort brought in more than $30,000.
Later that year, the Clarke County effort was honored by the American Cancer Society for raising the most money, per capita, in the Southeast region.
The following year, Clarke Countians broke the $45,000 mark; last year, they brought in more than $63,000.
How will it go this year? Clarke County held its "bank night" earlier this week and $22,950 was logged in. With more than $6,000 already received from the sale of luminaries, that puts Clarke County near the $30,000 mark before the event gets under way tonight at 7 p.m.
I was surprised …
In 1989, Verlynn Robinson did not expect to be told she had cancer. She was being treated for migraine headaches, and during that time, had a mammogram.
The cancer was caught at a very early stage and was removed surgically. She did not have to take radiation treatments.
Each Relay For Life starts off with a "Survivor's Lap." Robinson walked her first survivor's lap during Meridian's 1997 Relay For Life, and has walked the past three years in Clarke County's Relays.
Robinson said the board of directors for Clarke County's Relay For Life has stayed together from the start. All its members have been touched by cancer, either themselves or someone in their family. Robinson and Doggett are cancer survivors, while the other members are Ralph and Judy Boykin, Lynn Irby, Judy Lacey and Tom Cotten.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3217; or e-mail him at sswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.