The Relay for Life effort for Fulton County, Fulton, Hickman and South Fulton fell $20,000 short of its $47,000 goal this year, reports Becky Turner, relay chairman.
“I think it was the economy and the fact that a storm on June 13 caused us to cut most of our planned activities,” she said.
A powerful lightening and rain storm pulled the plug out of the event around 8 p.m. “It hurt us,” she said.
Wiped out were plans for fundraising activities such as the “Fear Factor” put on by Parkway Regional Hospital’s team, and the Relay “Idol” and frozen T- shirt contests, Turner said.
Next year the relay event will be held the first week in June, she said. She is hoping for better weather having it a week earlier.
The group did reschedule the luminaria ceremony to remember those individuals who have been affected by cancer. Candles were lit in honor or memory of cancer patients and placed in rows at the First Un
ited Methodist Church front steps July 19.
The ceremony started at 8:30 p.m.
But only a small crowd showed up to listen to Pat Dunker, luminaria chairman, and Nancy Puckett read off the names in the church of those for whom luminaria were purchased as a part of the annual cancer fund-raiser.
“We had about 850 donations originally, which were placed around the Pontotoc Park area on June 13,” Dunker said.
Each of those were represented by a $5 donation. Whenever there were multiple donations for a person, multiple bags were placed around the park, Dunker said.
But for the recreation of that event July 19, Dunker said they decided that every person from that original list would get a luminaria, but a number would be placed on the whit
e luminaria bag to show how many donations had been made on that person’s behalf.
“I remember one person had as many as 65 donations,” she said.
She estimated that 300 luminaria were placed on the church steps and inside. Included this year for the first time were purple bags, representing donations in honor of specific caregivers, she said.
Torches of hope, representing a $100 donation, were also placed at the bottom of the church steps.
Dunker said anyone who wishes to pick up the torch or placard can contact her Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (731) 886-8890.
During the Luminaria Ceremony at the church, Dunker sang “I Love to be with You,” a religious song.
Following that was a performance by the Praise Team of Brooks Chapel Ministries, conducted by Dr. Jesse Webb,
For the Fight Back theme portion of the ceremony, Webb talked about his experiences with cancer and urged everyone to fight back cancer.
He said he has lost seven people close to him, starting when he was eight years old and his father lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Don’t forget God’s promises,” he said. “Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Keep the focus and pass on the promise of a cure.”
