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The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Watauga County will be held Tomorrow, June 14 at WHS

by Madison V. Fisler

June 13, 2013. The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Watauga County will be held at Watauga High School in Boone starting on Friday, June 14 and lasting through the night and into the morning of June 15. This annual fundraiser not only raises money for cancer reasearch, but also serves as a meeting point for supporters, survivors and caretakers and as a memorial to those who have already passed on.

This year, participants will walk all night long to support the cause and there will also be numerous other events throughout the night. 

The detailed schedule of events is as follows:

Friday, June 14

  • 2:00 p.m. – begin setting up tents at Watauga High School
  • 2:00-5:00 p.m. – Pre-recorded music
  • 3:oo p.m. – until – Activities and fund-raisers are being held at various team tents. There will be food available at concession booths and surrounding areas. 
  • 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Liminaria for sale at the Luminaria Tent, Money may be turned it at the accounting tent
  • 5:00-10:00 p.m. – Relay Store is open
  • 4:00-5:00 p.m. Zumba with Gwen Dhing (Donations accepted for Relay for Life)
  • 5:00-9:00 p.m. – Silent auction opens for bids
  • 5:00-11:00 p.m. – Airwalk, Slide and Climbing Wall open provided by JUMP (closed for opening ceremony, and Luminaria Ceremony)
  • 5:15-5:45 – Appalachian Rhythm Cloggers perform on stage
  • 5:45-6:15 – George’s Band
  • 6:15-6:45 – High Country Cloggers perform on stage
  • 7:00-7:30 – Opening ceremonies on stage, welcome, speaker Paul Young, National Anthem by Maggie Idol, Incovation with Roy Dobyns, FBC, Boone, Color Guard by HCC Military Officers Association of America, Survivor and Caregiver Lap, Survivor Reception following Survivor Lap
  • 7:30-8:00 p.m. – Native Sons Band
  • 8:00-8:30 p.m. – Country Magic Cloggers perform on stage
  • 8:30 p.m.- Caregiver regognition and lap
  • 9:00 p.m. – Georgia Donour Gospel Music
  • 9:00 p.m. – Bidding closes at silent auction. Items must be picked up and paid for between 9:30 and 10:15 p.m.
  • 9:30 p.m. – Luminaria Ceremony narrated by Dr. Dick Jones, Bringing in of the Relay Torch, Memorial Torches lit by family members, Silent Luminaria Lap led by bagpiper Jamie Fish
  • 10:00 p.m. – Team recognition and lap, closing ceremony
  • 10:15 until – Bingo in survivor’s tent, Walk all night, Campout in the field 

Saturday, June 15 

  • 8:00 a.m. – Relay over/clean up site

Relay for Life is a very emotional celebration of life and the willingness to fight for it. 

“I think it is a time for survivors to connect with other survivors and it certainly gives them hope,” said Kathy Idol, co-chair of the Watauga County Relay for Life.

DownloadedFile-1“We have people who have been survivors for 40 years and those who have just been diagnosed. It spreads hope and it is a very emotional time for everyone. It’s hard to explain if you have never experienced it but it is a great time of hope for the people who are there.”

This year, 35 teams are participating in the event. Many of the teams do different types of fundraisers throughout the year, from 5K runs to pancake suppers. All of the money that these teams raise throughout the year is donated to the American Cancer Society to help fight cancer, raise awareness and spread information to those diagnosed and those who support them. 

The teams and team leaders are as follows:

  • Deerfield Dream Team – Jeannie Caviness
  • Jerry’s Intimidators – Mrs Paula y Ward
  • Friends for Life – Kathy Idol 
  • FBC Crusaders – Brian Barker
  • Grace Happens – Robin King 
  • St. Elizabeth’s Archangels – Ellisa Mayes
  • WHS Welders – Turner Trivette
  • Bethel Believers – Irene Woodard
  • BACC Walking with Spirit – Sarah Speed
  • MOAA HCC – Ben Covington
  • Joyce’s Memory Walkers – Deborah Kirksey
  • Rumple Rockers – Jull Hauser
  • Holden’s Heroes – Sonya Winkler
  • Pool of Hope – Faye Oliver
  • Cove Creek Relay Raiders – Cynthia Townsend
  • Seby B. Jones Regional Cancer Center – Sandra Cassidy
  • Lan’s Lappers – David Gragg
  • Ted’s Troop – Della Presnell
  • Boone Drug Crusaders – Carrie Phillips
  • The C-5’s – Dale Joyner
  • G.R.E.G – Melanie Hollar
  • Parkway Patriots – Jennifer Lacy
  • Mabel Mustangs – Lisa Totherow
  • Brady’s Believers of Valle Crucis – Kathryn Dalton
  • Junaluska Angels – Roberta Jackson
  • Chelsea Fuffaloes of Valle Crucis – Jill Storelli
  • Wag Life – Robert Dimitri
  • Blowing Rock School – Laura Seagle
  • Metamorphosis – Mary Ruble
  • Lights for Louise – Nancy Caudill
  • Watauga Opportunities – Dianne Brown
  • Hardin Park HoPe – Kimberly Shields
  • Green Valley School – Lauren Salisbury
  • Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living – Jen Teague
  • Maurice’s Beauties for Bravery – Tori Cole
  • Watauga County Farm Bureau – Sarah Bryan

In addition to the many teams participating, there are also many community and corporate sponsors who have contributed to the event. The following sponsors contributed greatly to the effort. 

Non-Team Corporate Sponsors

  • Tanger Properties LP

Team Corporate Sponsors

  • Templeton Tours
  • Watauga Surgical Group PA
  • Proffits Grove Baptist Church
  • First Baptist Church
  • Moretz Paving Inc.
  • Appalachian Regional Healthcare System
  • Watauga Building Supply, Inc. 
  • Deep Gap Ruritan Club 
  • Union Baptist Church
  • Mountaineer Ruritan Club
  • Dr. Yvonne Mack
  • Boone Drugs, Inc.
  • Critcher Brothers Produce, Inc.
  • R. H. Loven Company
  • Barney Hampton Funeral Service, Inc. 
  • Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp.
  • Appalachian Management Service
  • Chandler Concrete Company, Inc.
  • Austin and Barnes Funeral Home, Inc.
  • Blackberry Creek Mattress Outlet
  • Mast General Store, Inc.
  • Sweeting Appraisal Service
  • US Buildings, LLC
  • Hubbard Management, LLC
  • Foscoe Realty and Development Corp., Inc. 
  • Winebarger Motors, Inc.

Track Sign Sponsors

  • Paints and Paints Inc.
  • Eddie Alejandro Inc. 
  • Freedom ElecTech
  • Precision Cabinets, Inc. 
  • The Hastings Company
  • Pepper’s Restaurant
  • Stick Boy Bread Co. 
  • Maw’s Produce
  • Bare Essentials Natural Market
  • Grashal Outdoors
  • G & B Energy

MPAC Sponsors

  • Greenway Medical Associates
  • Dr. Pat Geiger
  • Laura Caviness, RPh
  • Brian Barker

Relay for Life is an international effort involving over 4 million people in over 20 countries that strives to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. Run by the American Cancer Society, the event strives to celebrate survivors, remember those who have passed on and fight back against cancer everywhere.

According to the Relay for Life’s website, linked here, the event raises a combined $400 million each year, which is then invested in groundbreaking cancer research and providing free information to cancer patients and their caregivers.