By Staff
SURVIVORS' RUN Hannah Eubanks, left, Dee Van Devender, Bill Watson, Della Sturdivant, Julie Blaine and Angie Boatner lead cancer survivors around the track at Meridian High School's Ray Stadium to open the Lauderdale County 10th Annual Relay For Life. The all-night event ended at 6 a.m. Saturday. Van Devender was chairman of the Relay for Life Survivors.Photo by Paula Merritt / The Meridian Star
By Erin Hilsabeck / staff writer
June 13, 2004
As temperatures stayed in the steamy upper-80s, most participants and spectators at Lauderdale County's 10th Annual Relay for Life were dressed in T-shirts and shorts.
Not Casey Hendricks. She wore a white toga and a laurel-leaf crown.
Judy Hopkins and her friends from Calvary Baptist Church wore matching purple shirts, but also sported grass skirts and necklaces made from brightly colored tropical flowers.
As part of the events associated with Relay for Life, held at Meridian High School's Ray Stadium, teams of volunteers participated in a variety of money-making competitions.
All proceeds from the overnight walk which began at 7 p.m. Friday and ended at 6 a.m. Saturday went to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, education, patient support and advocacy.
Hopkins, the team captain for Calvary Baptist Church, hoped her group would win best campsite theme. Their theme was "Aloha to Cancer."
Tiki torches and giant-sized flowers helped turn the Calvary tent into a tropical hut.
Hendricks' team, made up of students from Meridian Community College's Phi Theta Kappa honor society, used "Roman for a Cure" as their theme.
The best campsite award ultimately went to the Weems Mental Heath team, whose theme was related to "Saturday Night Fever." Calvary won second place, while A&B Electric took third with "Celebrate our Stars."
Other competitions included "most laps walked," "best midnight snack" and "best entertainment."
Becky Vance, chairwoman of the Relay for Life, said community groups raised $335,569.74 since March for fighting cancer. This, Vance said, is about $10,000 less than last year at this time.
The Lauderdale County Relay for Life raised the most money during its seventh year with about $398,000, she said.