SURVIVORS — Cancer survivor 4-year-old Audrey Smith of Cuba, Ky., walked with her mom, Chanda Smith (left), and fellow cancer survivor Lynnita Pierce of South Fulton

By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
The sweltering heat didn’t stop the celebration Friday night in downtown Fulton.
Cancer survivors and their friends and family turned out in force for the Relay For Life of Fulton County, Ky.
The fun-filled overnight event kicked off Friday evening with an opening ceremony and survivor lap at Fulton’s Pontotoc Park as participants celebrated survivorship and raised money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society.
It was an emotional start as cancer survivors carried a purple banner and wore special T-shirts while they looped the park to the strains of “A Moment Like This” and applause from the crowd. The survivors had also gathered prior to the event for a dinner in their honor.
Pam Whittemore, com-munity representative for the American Cancer Society’s Mid-South Divi-sion, said $22,000 was raised Friday night and into early Saturday at Fulton County’s Relay For Life. However, funds will be accepted until Aug. 31 to count toward the 2011 total.
Thirteen teams partici-pated in the fundraising event, according to Ms. Whittemore.
Citizens Bank won the Best Decorated Campsite award and the Fulton Y Club won the Most Spirit award. Pic Pac was the overall winner of the Stanley Jones-Central Metal Products Cup, a traveling trophy awarded each year for team participation in attending the kick-off and team captain meetings, participation in event activities and other criteria.
The plaques recognizing the most money raised will be presented at a later date.
Throughout the night Friday and into the wee hours of Saturday, Relay For Life team members participated in activities that also included a parade of teams, an auction, “Relay’s Got Talent,” a luminary ceremony, a womanless revue, a scavenger hunt, “Minute to Win It,” “Jam With the Air Band” and a dance party at 3. A closing ceremony rounded out the event at 5 a.m. Saturday.
“I would like to thank everyone for all of their hard work and dedication to the American Cancer Society and coming out to our Relay For Life in Fulton in the hot weather,” Ms. Whittemore said. “Our teams spanned from Hickman, Fulton and South Fulton and we are so appreciative of their hard work.
“We have many people to thank for their support, such as the City of Fulton, the sponsors, teams and, especially, the (organizing) committee. They work all year to make the Relay For Life happen and will soon start the planning process for 2012,” she added.
To join the committee or to volunteer, contact Ms. Whittemore at (270) 444-0750. For cancer information, visit the American Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.org.
“We need more volunteers to help,” Ms. Whittemore said. “The American Cancer Society is making a difference in the fight against cancer and we will not give up until our children ask, ‘What was cancer?’”
———
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 6.6.11