Relay For Life
Relay for Life is an annual event that happens in many cities all over the United States as well as over 21 countries. This fund-raising event is about celebrating the courage of those who have fought their way to another birthday-and silent vigils for those who lost their battle against cancer. Relay is a 24 hour event and the American Cancer Society asks each team to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Why is this you ask? This is because cancer never sleeps. The main objective of Relay is to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients and to help spread cancer awareness. There are many ways for people to get involved in Relay for Life. For example, you can be on a team and take part in the festivities during the event. Or you can be your own team, raise money and walk the track for as long as you can. You can donate your time to help set up booths/tents, guide people during the event, or light the luminaries that will be shining during the luminary ceremony. These are just a few things off the top of my head but there is so much more
Our firm has been involved with Relay for Life for the past few years. We have done several things to raise money for Relay. For instance, we held a yard/bake sale at the Goldsboro office location. Employees donated items from their households and donated all proceeds to Relay. We had employees make special baked goodies that we sold just for this event. J.J. Ashley Bakery donated a few of their baked items for us to sell as well. Then we had an Ipad 2 raffle. This of course was a great success as everyone wanted to win the new Ipad. Something new in our fund-raising efforts was the making of t-shirts for people to buy and wear in support of Relay. It does not take a lot to become involved in an event like this. Honestly, every little bit helps but it becomes addictive. Once you start and experience the wonderful feeling of helping someone else, you cannot stop. You want to do more.
With all the efforts of the Riddle & Brantley employees, we were able to donate $3,350.00 to an amazing team with an amazing story. The team’s name is Super Cooper. They got their team name from a brave little boy named Cooper who was diagnosed at the age of 4 with an inoperable brain tumor. Cooper’s mom, Renee, is the team captain and does everything she can to encourage people to participate in this great event. Cooper is now 8 years old and is cancer free thanks to chemotherapy treatments and everything else this strong little boy had to endure. Renee only knew that she was coming to our office to accept a donation but had no idea what the amount was. Let’s just say that when I shared with her the amount she had to find a seat and some Kleenex. Words will never be able to describe how appreciative Renee, Cooper and the Super Cooper team were to receive this.
Most of us have been affected by cancer in our lives whether it has been through personal experience, a friend or a family member, and it is events like Relay for Life that give us hope that one day we will find a cure.
For more information you can visit this website, www.cancer.org.
Shannon Wilt, Renee Bryan and Debbie Pennell. Photo provided by Goldsboro News Argus.
Written by Shannon Wilt, Coordinator of Philanthropic Operations