Relay for Life raises $70,001 to fight cancer VIDEO

HILLSVILLE — Funds raised for the fight against cancer in the Galax-Carroll Relay for Life showed an uptick this year, though a few less teams took to the track.
"We came up with 70,000 and one dollar," organizer Judy Beasley told The Gazette after having a day to recover from the all-nighter that started last Friday evening on the track at Tommy Thompson Field on the grounds of Carroll County High School.

Christopher Brooke

At the start of Friday's Survivors' Lap, a couple of the participants seem overwhelmed with emotion.

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Christopher Brooke

Teams were supposed to represent states. The Round Knob team was Georgia

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Christopher Brooke

A new lap this year was for anyone who had known someone with cancer. At left, holding hands, are the Basket family, who walked in memory of Patti Basket's brother.

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Christopher Brooke

Liz Ingersoll, the long-time top fund-raiser for the Galax-Carroll Relay for Life, joins other attendees at last Wednesday's Survivors' Banquet, held at the Grover King Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1115 in Hillsville. The meal was staffed by personnel from Grayson National Bank and members of the Island Creek Mennonite Church in Hillsville, who made deserts. Relay for Life was held Friday evening and Saturday morning at Carroll County High School's Tommy Thompson Field.

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The American Cancer Society event continued through a balmy evening into a hot Saturday morning.
Last year, 34 teams from Carroll County and Galax raised about $69,700, while this year 30 teams participated.
The fund-raising goal of $82,000 was based on the two localities' best year ever, when Relay for Life brought in $81,000 two years ago, but Beasley noted that these are challenging economic times.
"We were down this year but with things the way they are we're lucky to have gotten what we did," she said. "We raised $70,000 to help research cancer and implement programs in our area."
These funds will help support services like "Look Good, Feel Better," which provides make-up, wigs and prostheses to breast cancer patients, as well as "Road to Recovery," which assists with transportation to treatments.
About the declining number of teams, Beasley believes that the number dropped because there were a few teams made up of older members who couldn't continue.
A church team or two bowed out because members moved out and the churches couldn't find anybody to accept the responsibilities of working for Relay for Life.
Beasley hoped that new people and new teams would step up in the coming year.
Organizers already plan to start working early and set up a recruiting committee, she said. Any individual, church or businesses is welcome to call Beasley and get information on the relay.
Relay for Life had its share of successes this year, particularly with Bark in the Park, Beasley noted. This event, held in Felts Park, allowed people with pets to get involved in the effort.
Organizers plan to make the well-received Bark in the Park an annual effort.
Relay for Life is not over for the year, Beasley said. It will continue with the Truckers' Parade Against Cancer on Sept. 25.
Anyone interested in getting a banner in honor of or in memory of a loved one can contact parade organizer Cindy Dixon at 237-1414.

For more information about Carroll-Galax Relay for Life, contact Beasley at (276) 398-4214.

• The 2010 Grayson County Relay For Life will begin Friday night at the Fries Ball Park. As of Monday, 17 teams had raised almost $10,000 for the American Cancer Society.