By By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
June 10, 2001
The 2001 version of Relay for Life raised a total of $400,139 for the American Cancer Society, surpassing its goal of $325,000, organizers said Saturday.
The local Relay for Life fund-raising campaign is the largest in the Mid-South division of the American Cancer Society, which includes Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.
More than 3,700 people attended Friday night's festivities at Meridian High School's Ray Stadium. More than 1,500 people participated as members of the 126 teams involved.
Non-corporate division awards for a combination of teams that raised the most money went to Northcrest Baptist Church, first place with $14,526.20; Highland Baptist Church, second place with $11,336.88 and First Baptist Church with $10,063.78.
Corporate division awards for combination of teams raising the most money went to Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center teams, $33,710.89; Rush Foundation Hospital teams, $16,639.27 and Riley Hospital teams with $16,422.09.
The top three teams raising the most money were Mississippi Power Company, $11,280; Anderson Cancer Center, $11,076.77 and Northcrest Baptist No. 3, $10,577.70.
Teams that raised the most money per capita were SuperStop with $885.96; Northcrest Baptist No. 3, with $813.67 and Anderson Cancer Center with $791.20.
Individuals who raised the most money were Ann Alexander, $5,640; Brenda Compton, $5,261.24 and Becky Vance, $3,242.60.
Team competition results from Friday were as follows:
Championship (based on participation and team spirit) BellSouth, first place; Northeast Elementary, second; Riley Surgery, third.
Camp site Northcrest Baptist
Dinner (judged by colored quadrants) Orange: Bell South. Green: Trustmark No. 1, first; Radio People, second; Weems, third. Yellow: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, first; Riley Surgery, second; Northcrest Baptist No. 1, third. Red: Meridian Oncology Associates, first; Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church, second.
Midnight snack (judged by colored quadrants) Red: Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church, first; Meridian Oncology Associates, second; EMBDC, third. Orange: Union Planters Bank, first; Rush Castaways, second; SuperStop, third. Yellow: Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church, first; Riley Surgery, second; Northcrest Baptist No. 1, third. Green: Calvary Baptist Church, first; Angie's Army, second; Community Bank, third.
Pajama walk Alliance Health Care, first; Northeast Elementary, second; Union Planters Bank, third.
Entertainment (judged by colored quadrants) Orange: Rush Magna, first. Green: Weems No. 1, first; Angie's Army, second; Alliance Health Care, third. Red: Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church, first; Meridian Oncology, second. Yellow: Northcrest Baptist, first; Northpark, second; Oakland Heights United Methodist Church, third.
Smart Shop Northeast Elementary, first; BellSouth, second; Anderson Cancer Center, third.