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photo by Marcus Frazier
First United Pentecostal of Natchez Relay for Life Team members Gail Copper and Candice Farmer cheer as their team make laps shortly after 1 a.m Saturday.
Relay raises $215,000
Published Sunday, June 15, 2008
NATCHEZ — By 6 a.m. the levee was nearly empty and the tents were almost gone.
The 2008 Relay for Life had come to a close — a successful close at that.
Relay Chairman Janis Holder said this year’s relay netted approximately, $215,000.
“That’s down a little from last year,” she said.
But Holder said it’s actually not unusual to receive up to $25,000 in late donations.
Photo by Marcus Frazier
Team Courage member Michelle Gurhrie uses a potato in a sock to tap along a golf ball during a game of potato golf shortly after 1 a.m. as teams passed the time.
That puts this year’s total haul closer to $235,000 Holder said.
Last year’s Relay netted $272,000 Holder said.
“But I’m thinking $235,000 is still great,” she said. “Especially for our size.”
Holder said Natchez is widely recognized as having a unique ability to raise large donations relative to its population.
Event organizers from Hattiesburg, Meridian and Jackson were in town earlier this week to study why the Natchez area is able to get such high donation ratios.
But Holder already knows the answer.
“This is an area with a lot of compassion and a good competitive spirit,” she said.
And while the area’s compassion and competitive spirit was visible on Friday night attendance was down slightly.
While taking her tent down early Saturday morning Tonya Doucet said she had noticed a smaller turnout than last year.
“I’m not sure why,” she said.
Holder said she thinks warmer than normal temperatures kept some at home for this year’s Relay.
“It was hot out here,” she said.
The event is normally scheduled for early May, however since the flooded Mississippi threatened much of the area where the walk happens it was pushed back.
“It was a little to dangerous to be out here with the river,” Holder said.
In the time the event was delayed the weather got hotter.
Holder said she believes many of those going through cancer treatments simply don’t have the strength to endure the heat.
“It can be very difficult for them,” she said.
Holder estimated that 1,000 fewer people attended this year’s event competed to 5,000 from last year.
But for those who did both Holder and Duocet were grateful.
“It’s good cause,” Doucet said. “This is what people should be doing.”
Comments
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on June 15, 2008 at 1:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did any one notice that their wasnt any tents in the middle this year not many buisness participated.i know my team didnt because im no longer on that team but i would have figured theyd do it.Hmm got to check into that.
Posted by dwhitley (anonymous) on June 15, 2008 at 5:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great event!!! The Lord held off the rain just for us. Some people were asking me about buying shirts at the event, so maybe each team could purchase extra shirts to sell at the event and new members could be added that night during the Relay. One lady, that I spoke with about this said that she was going to start a team at her job. I just love this event and my hats goes off to all that made it a successful one. There were so many behind the scenes people that many wouldn't know about like Mrs. Lanehart, her husband and son and many others that I didn't know their names, but Mrs. Lanehart kept telling Janis to go home, but Janis effortlessly endured and stayed to help take down the big tent. Also, to the men from the correctional institute that helped and probably never get any credit, you guys did a great job.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 15, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Woo Hoo!
Posted by jdrews (anonymous) on June 16, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It was a great event! To all those that participated, you did a wonderful job. Thanks for all your hard work. Every year, the Relay Committee is so thankful for all the survivors, teams and volunteers that endure the hard work to make this event a success.
To picture_music, there were not tents in the middle because we try to leave this open when possible for people to sit and watch the games and entertainment. We were indeed missing some teams due to the postponement. We hope they will be back next year.
To dwhitley, if you know someone that wants to start a team, get them to contact any committee member and we will be glad to help them get started. You are correct in that there are so many behind the scene people that help out. And yes the men from the correctional facility worked very hard and were happy to do so.
I am blessed to live in such a great community. Thanks everyone!
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