Vernon County Relay for Life marks 25 years

The Vernon County Relay for Life Committee hosted an Open House Birthday Party to celebrate "25 Years of Hope" on Monday, Feb 9, in the YMCA Meeting Room.

Committee members, team captains and members and survivors gathered to have some finger foods and punch, cake provided by Daylight Donuts and ice cream compliments of Highland Dairy, while discussing upcoming activities in this year's Relay for Life.

Committee Chairperson Shelly Ward began by welcoming everyone and showing some of the items that could be used for fundraising. She also showed off this year's T-shirts. All but the survivor's T-shirts are a different color each year; the survivors' shirts are always purple.

Currently, the committee has 10 members and 23 teams gearing up for the June 26 event, but they would like to recruit some new teams to participate. The committee would like to see that number at 25 or better for this year's Relay, according to Ward. Ramey's, Murphy Family Farms, and the Nevada R-5 Schools were some of the teams represented at Monday's celebration.

Ward was optimistic about this year's Relay. They failed to meet their goal last year, but it was through no fault of their own. "We got tornadoed out," said Ward. As in years past, the Relay will feature several food booths, a queen contest, an auction and a number of other fun events that the whole family can enjoy while helping the Vernon County Relay for Life Committee reach their target of $58 thousand.

Relay for Life is a community event, too. Many businesses participate. It is held on the Square in order to get the community to participate. Most people in the community have been touched by cancer in some way. A lot people recognize the term Relay for Life because the event is very visible while it is going on. Even more know what the American Cancer Society represents.

The American Cancer Society has been around since 1946; and according to their Web site, they have raised and contributed $32 billion to cancer research in that time.

The organization has played a major role in such innovative treatment techniques as bone marrow transplants and the development of cancer fighting drugs. Their scientists are some of the best in the world. Forty-two of the Society's funded scientists have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

The Cancer Society offers information and education 24 hours a day seven days a week 365 days a year. They offer free programs and services in more that 3,400 communities nationwide.

Through the Relay for Life they offer hope and have for 25 years. Hope for victims of the disease, hope for their care givers, hope for loved ones, hope for a cure.

You can get involved. You can become a committee member or a team captain. You can be a volunteer. You can be a part of that hope by contacting Shelly Ward at (417) 684-2446 or (417) 944-2501 or Debbie Ketter at (417) 448-7375. You can also get involved by visiting the Vernon County Relay for Life Web site at relayforlife.org/vernoncomo.

You can find pictures of past events and you can sign up a team or a volunteer. You can even donate to the Relay while on line. You can get in on fun of being part of the Relay for Life.