Over $80,000 raised to aid in cancer research

Published 5:00 am Monday, May 9, 2005

The 2005 Lincoln County Relay for Life was once again anoutstanding success.

Thousands turned out Friday evening to spend time socializingand enjoying the good weather during the annual event at theBrookhaven Exchange Club Park. Children enjoyed the park’sattractions, and many enjoyed the food and entertainment that washeld throughout the night.

Kim Bridge, relay chairman, said approximately $81,000 wasraised by the teams to be donated to the American Cancer Society,and more money is expected to be turned in.

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“We still have a couple of teams that haven’t turned their moneyin yet,” said Bridge, adding that a golf tournament held by oneteam is still in the schedule for the upcoming weeks.

Bridge said about 2,000 people came to this weekend’s event,including 68 cancer survivors. A change to this year’s relay camewith the luminaria service. As always, people could buy the smallbags that would line the walking track. The bags could be dedicatedin memory of or in honor of someone, and a candle set in the bagswould be lit during a night-fall service. Last year, the names onthe bags would be read aloud during the ceremony. This year, familyand friends were asked to gather around the bags in a moment ofsilence and to participate in a silent lap. A song — “I Sure MissYou” — was performed by Tyler Bridge.

Bridge said the participants enjoyed the change to the luminariaservice.

“We had some pretty positive feedback on that,” he said.

Also present at the relay was a banner for people to sign topetition Gov. Haley Barbour to raise the tobacco tax by $1.

Bridge said 17 teams turned out for the event, many of whichwould set up their own stations, or “campsites,” around the track.Bridge applauded five teams for keeping at least one person holdinga team baton on the track throughout the 12-hour walk that lasteduntil 7 a.m. Saturday.

Several team awards were given out at the event, Bridge said. Ofthe awards, One Family United Against Cancer raised the most moneyfor a single team with $23,000. South Mississippi Home Health wonBest Baton, King’s Daughters Medical Center won Best Midnight Snackfor serving roasted duck, Check Express won Best T-shirt, andPleasant Grove United Methodist Church won the Sunrise Award forhaving the most team members still on the track at dawn Saturday.Ray Glass of Brookhaven won Most Number of Laps for anindividual.

The entertainment lasted through the very last hour, saidBridge. Children could ride all the attractions at the park for thefirst few hours an unlimited number of times after buying anarmband. Several groups performed through the night, and activitiesdirector Brian Turnage hosted many games that adults and kids couldparticipate in.

“Overall, it was a huge success,” said Bridge.

Bridge expressed his gratitude to the many volunteers who madethis year’s relay a success, including the exchange club memberswho came to operate the attractions Friday evening, and theBrookhaven Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’sReserves for patrolling the event throughout the night. Bridge alsowas appreciative to area businesses and employers for allowingtheir employees to hold fund-raisers during work hours and toparticipate in the relay.

“It’s what makes it so much easier for us to do this,” saidBridge.