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Suzanne Greenlee Leads Survivors Lap
 Antoinette
Hunt gave an amazing performance to open the ceremony when she sang the Star
Spangled Banner as the Alachua Police Explorers slowly raised the Flag. The
clarity and power of her voice filled the air with a vibrant awe and tugged at
the patriotic heart of the attending crowd.
Mayor Jean Calderwood of Alachua and Mayor Kirk Eppenstein of High Springs
along with City Manager Clovis Watson, Jr. welcomed everyone to the 2005 Relay
For Life.
The event was cut short around 5 am Saturday morning when sever weather
intervened. Community Representative Suzanne Greenlee was concerned for the
safety everyone and says a wrap up meeting and awards ceremony will take place
in a couple of weeks. The date and details will be announced in the near future.
Expectations of reaching this year's goal of $35,000
is very high with more than $29,000 being
reached before the kick-off of Friday evening's opening ceremony.
The event saw an increase in team participation and youth involvement.
Activities Chair, Christina Truman, included a talent concert and competition
which provided an opportunity for young performers to 'show their stuff' and
entertain the crowd. Bands, duos, solos and comedy routines provided spectators
with entertainment well into the morning hours. All performs are eligible for a
chance to win an MP3 player, plaques of recognition and community service credit
hours for high school students.
Even though the event was interrupted, the night's purpose was fulfilled in
honoring and recognizing survivors and families who have been touched by cancer.
The luminary ceremony created an atmosphere of still reverence as candles
forming the word HOPE glimmered against the night while the names of survivors
and of those whose lives were taken away by cancer were read.
Factoid :: ACS administration costs represent only 7 percent of
funds raised with the remaining 93 percent going to research, prevention,
patient support, detection, treatment and fundraising.
To learn more about Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society go to
http://www.cancer.org
photos ©2005 Constance L.Heuss | 
