Nancy Taylor: Greene Publishing, Inc.
Madison County began making plans for the 2018 Relay For Life when local individuals came together at North Florida Community College (NFCC) on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. to meet with the Tallahassee representative from the American Cancer Society. The date for the 2018 Relay is May 4, 2018.
One of the primary items decided during the meeting was the theme. After some discussion and several ideas being tossed around, “Let’s kick cancer out of this world” was chosen. Teams will base their campsite decorations and activities for the year around this central theme.
Relay For Life always has the same mission, and that is to “Save lives; celebrate lives and lead the fight for a world without cancer.”
In 2017, Madison’s Relay saw 19 teams fill the track as 141 registered participants celebrated 34 survivors and raised $33,416.39 toward the fight.
For 2018, the bar has been raised. The goal for the coming year is to have 22 registered teams with a total of 160 participants. It is hoped that 40 survivors will register and join the Relay as their lives are celebrated. The monetary fundraising goal is $37,000.
Becoming involved in Relay is easy. You can start a new team, join an existing team or join as an individual. Registration should be completed online at relayforlife.org/Madison.
Interested individuals who desire to be more involved can volunteer to join the leadership team. Available opportunities for involvement include: recruitment (of teams, individuals and survivors), luminaria (the candlelit memorials), entertainment, event-day setup and takedown, mission education and more.
One of the special fundraising incentives for the month of October is for individuals who raise $150 by Tuesday, Oct. 31. For those who accomplish this goal, they will earn a long-sleeve Relay t-shirt. Both cash and online donations can apply toward this goal, but those interested must register online as a participant in order to be eligible for the prize.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the NFCC Gym Multi-purpose Room. If you bring someone who wants to start a new team, you and that individual will both receive a prize.