2005 Alachua-High Springs Relay For Life

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