By NANCY KOGER
Special to the Herald
When the community’s biggest fund-raising event begins with an admonition to remember that this is a time of economic recession and ends with a deluge-producing lightning storm, leaders and workers would probably expect mediocre results.
But this is the Howard/Glasscock Relay for Life, which apparently is immune to lightning, rain or a flat economy as it continues to raise record amounts of money to help find a cure for cancer. Such was the case this year as a final net total of $221,165 — a new record — for the 2009 Relay for Life was announced Thursday evening at the Community Wrap-Up at First United Methodist Church's Garrett Hall. The crowd enjoyed a video of Bruce Schooler’s photos taken during Relay, followed by a subdued and emotional audio Luminaria Ceremony, authored by Susan Lewis and Tumbleweed Smith, illuminated by battery-powered candles. The luminaria ceremony, a hallmark of each year's Relay, was washed out by rain during last month's event. Recognition and appreciation was given to sponsors, underwriters, teams and Relay Committee members with plaques and certificates. Before announcing the team totals and best-performing teams, Co-chair Jenny Sayles stated that the T-shirt contest had earned $800.08 that evening. The highest-earning large Relay team was TexStone Racers with $44,315, and the small team winner was Scenic Mountain Medical Center’s Cancer Crushers with $18,235. The total revenue generated all the teams was more than $131,000, while underwriters accounted for $39,680. Mind, Body and Soul from Big Spring State Hospital, with its decorated underwear décor, took the award for Most Creative Campsite. The MHMR Warriors were voted Most Spirited team. Big Ed’s Deeres got a spirit stick to display at next year’s campsite in the Decorated Baton contest, and the SMMC Cancer Crushers were presented a stuffed T-shirt as winners of the Best T-shirt Contest. Emery Blanton of the regional American Cancer Society office, presented the award for ACS Volunteer of the Year to Marci Lykken. Bonnie Miller, a two-time cancer survivor with Cornell Team Lockout and next year’s Hero of Hope, concluded the evening with her “Fight Back” presentation, admonishing everyone going out in the sun to “Slap on a hat, slip into a shirt, slap on some sunscreen, and stay out of tanning salons” to avoid melanoma.
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