2006 Relay For Life Campaign
Termed Successful
by: Bobby McDonald
In a Wednesday, May 10th announcement, Carolyn McKinney, 2006 Relay For Life Campaign Chairman, deemed this year's campaign a success, as she cited final survivor and financial numbers. McKinney stated, "We like to set new financial records each year, bit it is much more important to keep our focus on the real mission of celebrating survivorship!"
Carolyn McKinney, 2005 & 2006 Chairman of Relay For Life.
McKinney reported that there were 291 registered suvivors for the annual Survivor Walk, up from 242 in 2005, and over 200 of them walked the track in the opening lap of the 2006 campaign. "We celebrated their victories, and remembered those who have been lost to cancer," expressed McKinney. "And, through the efforts of 37 teams and a number of local sponsors, we raised a total of $124,535.64! We have a lot of great reasons to be proud of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County, in this effort!"
Relay for life was held on Friday, April 28th, at the Sulphur Springs Middle School
Track. The all-night event was forced to shut down relatively early in the night, when a band of rain and thunderstorms moved across Hopkins County, bringing much needed rainfall. The Relay For Life Campaign has a very successful record in Hopkins County in recent years, and serves as the signature activity for fundraising for the American Cancer Society. It provides an opportunity for fundraising, cancer education, advocacy, and volunteerism all across the nation.
McKinney announced that the campaign will sponsor a Relay Wrap-Up Brunch for all Relay team members and cancer survivors, on the Downtown Square in Sulphur Springs, on Saturday, May 27th, at 9:00 a.m. Donuts, juice, and coffee will be served. The short program will include the presentation of team trophies, announcements, and some door prizes. Cancer survivor shirts and pins for those unable to attend the Relay event will also be available. For those who submitted pictures for the video show, they will be available for pick-up, that day also. Team pictures and cancer survivor pictures will also be available for those who ordered them. McKinney said chairs would not be provided, so everyone needed to bring lawn chairs to the square. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Activity Center at First Baptist Church.
Other highlights of this year's campaign included over 50 registered caregivers who participated in the event, and some 14 pints of blood were collected by Carter Blood Center, who was present at this year's event.
McKinney stated that the organization by-laws call for a change in leadership after two years of service, and a committee has been appointed to make key officer and committee assignments for the 2007 campaign. McKinney expressed her gratitude to all who have worked on her committees, and throughout the community to make her two years of service a success. "The people of Hopkins County are the greatest people in the world and among the most giving, I have ever known," expressed McKinney. "And, I know that the community will support next year's campaign to make it even more successful!"
Because of her leadership and outstanding service, Carolyn McKinney has been invited to attend the 2006 Celebration on the Hill, in Washington D.C., this September, as representative of Hopkins County. The event is to raise awarenesss among our country's lawmakers of the importance of cancer research and the American Cancer Society's 2015 goal of eliminating the country of the pain and suffering of this disease. When she is not leading the local fight for the American Cancer Society, McKinney is the Director of Pre-school Ministry at First Baptist Church.
Congratulations, Carolyn,
On A Successful Campaign,
And Thanks For All Your
Hard Work and Dedication!
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