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Local News
2008 cancer event exceeds expectations By Gina Childress | Daily Times Staff Writer With loving memories in their hearts and tears in their eyes, the Fike Keywanettes had the honor of leading the luminary lap for Relay for Life around the Wilson County Fairgrounds Friday night. The team was asked to lead the lap in honor of the late Joyce Byrd, long-time faculty adviser for the group, who lost her battle with cancer just one week after last year's Relay event. Senior Kristen Bridgers was very emotional as she spoke about Byrd. "It really means a lot to be here this year," she said. "I came out here expecting to see her since I did this with her all the other years. I know this is what she would have wanted us to do. We just wanted to make her proud." In an effort to keep Byrd's spirit with them, the girls banded together and raised over $9,300 by holding a womanless beauty pageant, selling T-shirts, auctioning homemade cakes and collecting general donations. They also held a fund-raiser at Chick-fil-A Thursday night where they raised $357, the largest fund-raising event ever held there. If that wasn't enough to make the girls proud, Christy Proctor, owner of the restaurant, personally matched the amount raised, bringing the total to $714. "We cannot thank her enough for her cooperation and generosity," said Colleen Raper, one of the faculty advisers for the group. The Wilson Police Department raised over $6,000 for the cause. A portion of that money, $777, was raised when Lt. Eric Smith said he would allow his head to be shaved if the officers in the department raised $700 among themselves. Teresa Jones, Ladonna Mangum and Rhonda Mauldin were the co-chairs for this year's event and they all couldn't be more pleased with the overall success. At 6 p.m., the total amount raised thus far was $147,642, nearly $60,000 more than was collected at 6 p.m. last year. "Last year we had 58 teams participating," said Jones. "This year we have 72." This year's Relay has even more of a special meaning for the Jones' team. Two weeks ago Friday night, one of their team members, 71-year-old George Milton Webb, lost his battle to brain cancer. "We are dedicating our efforts this year in his memory," said Jones with tears in her eyes. "He was active with our team and had beat lung cancer but couldn't win his second battle. We miss him." Jones said she is not only thankful for the community making this year's Relay so successful, but she is also grateful for the corporate sponsors as well. "We couldn't have done this without them either. They have been a huge part of this year's success," she said. "We thank everyone." "This has been wonderful," she said. "Even with two heavy rain showers we have at least several thousand people out here raising money. It's just wonderful." gina@wilsontimes.com | 265-7821
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