The Sandspur

Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: Holt News

Media Credit: COURTESY OF LEANN DRURY TAKING STRIDES AGAINST CANCER: (from left) HHSGA officers Richard Mino, Mary-Allen Singer, and Matt Drury.

When I originally signed up to be part of the Holt Relay for Life Team I asked myself out loud, "Spend the night outside in a tent with no shower, or my soft, comfy bed?" Then I was reminded by my team captain Mary-Allen Singer, "It is one night Jen, think about what a great cause this is - definitely not as bad as chemotherapy."

Relay for Life raises money for The American Cancer Society and this year Holt students participated with their own team for the first time. Over the past few years participants on teams from Rollins has helped to raise tens of thousands of dollars for this great cause. This year many teams from various functions of Rollins and hundreds of people from the Winter Park community joined together and walked the track and joined the festivities including music, food, contests including pie eating and a talent show at Showater Field from 5:00 PM on April 11 till 12:00 PM on April 12.

Relay for Life began about twenty years ago by a doctor walking around a track solo to raise money to fight cancer. Since then communities all over the country participate and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to continue the fight against cancer. Every year the American Cancer Society hosts the eighteen hour event with teams of ten to fifteen individuals from various schools, religious organizations and business in communities around the country.

Sixty percent of the funds raised through this event go to providing cancer education and services for cancer patients in the local area. The remaining forty percent of funds raised go to cancer research. The event is intended to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those who have lost their lives to the disease. Cancer survivors were celebrated in the opening ceremony; the survivors were announced and began the festivities by walking the first lap. During the night a dramatic luminary ceremony recognized many cancer patients that have sadly lost their lives to the disease.

Each team decorated their camping area to the theme of this years relay 'Decades of Hope.' Teams won prizes for creatively decorated campsites and the most money raised. The Holt team worked together to put up the tent at our assigned area (not an easy task), and Leann Drury decorated our tiki-themed campsite.

Continued...

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