‘Relay for Life’ brings in more than $19,000

By Carrie Helms, Clarendon Enterprise

Clarendon’s Relay for Life topped its original goal of $10,000 and brought in $19,263 for the American Cancer Society.

From dusk until dawn, people from all over Donley County came out for good food, great fun, and to help in the fight against cancer.

“When the teams registered and brought in the money they had raised already, we had more than our goal,” Chairperson Dawn Watson said. “We opened with our goal before anyone walked a lap, and we had no where to go but up.”

The event opened up with a Survivors’ Lap walked by 75 of those who had survived cancer.

Awards were given to the teams that made the most money and walked the most laps.

“The Hula Hildogs from Herring Bank made $2,888 and walked the most laps,” Watson said. “In second was the Hedley Hooligans with $2,300, and Grumpy’s Gang from the Medical Center Nursing Home was third with $2,093.”

Prizes for Most Original Campsite went to USDA, and Best Campsite went to the Caduceus Clan from the Clarendon Family Medical Center.

“Herring Bank won Worst Campsite because they wouldn’t bribe the judges,” Watson said.

The Luminary Service began at 10 p.m. with 206 luminaries purchased in honor of loved ones, and the bachelor/bachelorette auction began at midnight.

“We auctioned off eleven people and made about $200,” Watson said.

The event ended at 7:00 a.m. with a hearty breakfast prepared by Alan Graham.

“A big thanks goes to Alan,” Watson said. “He and his team were out there all night long and cooked breakfast for everyone.”

Committee member Darlene Spier attributes the event’s success to the involvement of the community.

“The event was successful because we had real county-wide involvement,” Spier said. “Cancer has no respect for where you live, and everyone has been affected by it in some way.”

The event would not have happened without the organization and loving care of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

“It was something new we had never done before,” Spier said. “Dawn Watson and Greg Henry both had a lot of experience with the Relay for Life, and their ideas and leadership had a lot to do with our success.”

The committee hopes that with as much success as they had this year, they will be able to raise about $30,000 next year.

“It is something we definitely want to do again,” Watson said. “We’re already taking notes about what we can do next year to make it even better.”

Proceeds from the event will go to the American Cancer Society to fund cancer research and education all over the country.

“There were a lot of sore muscles on Saturday morning,” Watson said, “but it was worth it.”