Relay tops $500,000 mark
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on May 28, 2004 2:03 PM
The Relay for Life has topped half a million dollars and money is still coming in. Terry Butler, one of the event's three cochairmen, announced at an awards meeting Thursday night that the total now stands at $500,885.
This year's goal was $425,000. When the Relay ended May 15, it had already raised $496,160.
Sponsored by the Wayne County Unit of the American Cancer Society, the event is held each year to raise money for cancer research and local patient services.
During the meeting, special awards were presented to Boy Scout Troop 59 of Grantham, Boy Scout Troop 11 of St. Luke United Methodist Church and Brenda Robinson, 10th year anniversary chairman.
Plaques were given to the teams raising the most money. They were Wayne Memorial Hospital, first, $75,068; Purple Star Survivors, second, $35,147; Shepherd Shockers, third, $26,934; and Friends Fellowship Class of New Hope Friends, fourth, $23,356.
Three first-time teams also received plaques for raising the most money. They were First Free Will Baptist Church, $9,413; First Pentecostal Holiness Church of Mount Olive, $6,607; and RBC Centura/Logan's, $4,738.
Awards for campsites went to Wayne Memorial Hospital, first; New Hope Friends Church, second; Sheriff's Office, third, and Cherry Hospital-O'Berry Center, fourth.
New this year are two traveling trophies -- one for the church raising the most money and one for the school raising the most money. The church trophy went to New Hope Friends, and the school trophy went to Grantham School, which raised $8,263. Charles B. Aycock High School raised $6,370 and received a plaque for being runner-up.
Ms. Butler said the 2004 Relay was one of the biggest the Cancer Society has ever had here in Wayne County. More than 90 teams participated in the 15th annual event.
Also new this year, Wayne County is in competition with Johnston County's Relay for Life. "Between Johnston and Wayne counties, we want to raise at least $1 million," said Ms. Butler. Johnston County's Relay will take place June 4.