0-Relay for Life exceeds goal

With each step taken during this weekend's Relay for Life event, participants moved one step closer to a cancer free world, organizers said.

This year's event, held at Northside High School, shattered previous fundraising records and sailed past its goal of raising $465,761 - with more money still coming in, said event chairwoman Carol Jamison.

"We could not have had better weather," she said. "This is the best event in my 10 years of relaying."

Relay for Life raises money for cancer research, education, advocacy and services by having sponsors pledge money according to how many laps around the track participants can walk. The event, held throughout the U.S., also celebrates cancer survivors, their caregivers and honors those who have lost the battle with cancer.

Setting records across the board, this year's event in Onslow County had more than 3,000 participants.

"Without you cancer wins," Jamison told a gathering crowd at the center stage as Saturday's walk wound down. "With you we save lives."

Participants really came through this year with bake sales, car washes and raising money on the Web, she said.

"This is an opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors and support the fight against cancer," she said.

Many helping out had a story to share about how cancer has effected their lives. Willard Henry, a civilian employee aboard Camp Lejeune, lost his mother and a close family friend to cancer.

"Once I found out what they do here, I knew I had to come out and help," he said.

Henry volunteered for what organizers called the toughest, most grueling job available - head of logistics.

He was responsible for everything from making sure the stage was set up properly to organizing where the 133 team campsites were to go along the track to just about everything else.

"I believe in giving back," he said. "These are good people doing a good thing."

Cookie Cavanagh who won in her 2002 battle against breast cancer said she takes part in Relay for Life because she doesn't want anyone else to have to go through what she endured.

"Cancer needs to be in the history books," she said.

Cavanagh - who donated a foot and a half lock of hair to be used in wig making for chemotherapy patients - pitched in as the chairwoman of cancer survivors. She said this weekend was the largest Relay she has seen in Onslow County.

"I had 1,100 survivors in my database before (Friday) and have added 100 since," she said.

Cavanagh said the Relay is "bittersweet" for her.

"We have more and more people diagnosed with cancer," she said. "Does that mean the problem is growing or that we are more aware of it?"

Participants ended Saturday's portion of the Relay event with a final lap around the track holding a small flag. Each flag represented one person in Onslow County who will be diagnosed with cancer in 2009. There were 480 flags.



Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.