It's South Carroll County's biggest family reunion,
reaching from the heart of the county to its farthest
southerly borders to beckon members anxious to
celebrate the surname of Survivor. It's also a time to
honor those who fought the good fight and, too early,
slipped the bonds of earth's dominion, bound for
greater glory.
It's Relay for Life, in its fifth year rewarded by the
dedication of the community to the tune of
$153,982.66, some $18,000 more than was raised last
year, with more donations expected.
It was a night to remember, marked by the presence of
former Vol All-SEC defensive back Tim Priest; the
unexpected homecoming of Army Warrant Officer Amy
Lockhart, who, after a year in Bahrain, surprised mom
Faye and dad, Billy Lockhart, a cancer survivor; and
with the testimonies of honorary co-chairmen David
Thomas and Larry Thomason, whose words shone in
reflection of the unspoken stories of 130 survivors
present.
The most poignant moment was undoubtedly the
survivor's lap that began the relay with 22 teams
passing their batons in continuous circuits throughout
the night in recognition that, for those with cancer,
there is no reprieve from the struggles to conquer the
disease.
But mostly, there was laughter, with fine
entertainment, games, food and fellowship that kept
team members and guests spirited in a carnival
atmosphere that makes Relay for Life the county's
best-loved celebration.
The announcement of the record-setting total was
heralded during the 6:00 Sunrise Service Saturday
morning by the dynamic gospel soul of the now-married
Johnson Sisters: Marie Weathers, Alice Monk, Charlotte
Dinwiddie and Yvonne Griffin, whose a cappella hymns
of praise rang rich and sweet over an audience already
primed by divine inspiration.
The Johnson Sisters
Special Events co-chair Terry Furr said during the
morning devotional that the event was one of South
Carroll's most successful relays for a number of
reasons: "Hard work is one factor, plus everything we
do is centered around God; Tim (Tucker) and Lee
(Carter) work hard to ensure that. I believe God will
honor the work we do when we honor Him and work with
Him in it," he said, quoting from Psalm 127: "Except
the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that
build it."
Furr lost his father-in-law to lung cancer in May
1994, two months after his diagnosis. "He had a
brilliant mind, a quick mind and a big heart; we all
miss him," he said, lamenting that his son Josh never
knew his grandfather, and that his father-in-law never
got to see Josh play ball.
American Cancer Society staff member Jamie Davis,
chose to remain behind when, two months ago, her
husband's career took him to South Carolina.
"I chose to stay here because I have a passion for
this and I'm so touched to see so many people have the
same passion," she said, sharing her reason to relay
was her mother, who died of colon cancer 11 months
after diagnosis when Jamie was a sophomore in college.
She noted the goals of the American Cancer Society: to
reduce deaths by 50% - "That's five million people,"
she said; to reduce the number of diagnoses by 25%,
for six million averted cases, and to measurably
increase the quality of life for those touched by
cancer, enhancing the lives of some 11 million cancer
patients, by 2015.
"I didn't think it could get any better," said Jamie
of her experiences, "This is a wonderful farewell
gift."
Stating God placed her in Carroll County for a reason,
Jamie left with teams and participants her own
farewell gift, a quote she said was "near and dear" to
her family: "It's not what happens to you in life,
it's how you respond."
Co-chairman Dr. Tim Tucker wasted no time in reminding
teams that next year's Relay begins now. "It's all
because of you this could happen," he said to tired
but elated team members.
The Friday evening event was an opportunity for
inspiration.
"Give us peace in the midst of the storm," said First
United Methodist Church minister Dr. Paul Mullikan in
his opening prayer Friday evening. Describing the
day's rapidly changing weather, he continued, "Warmed
by the sun, covered by the clouds, refreshed by the
rain, life is like that... (but) no matter what, He's
always with us."
Tucker also noted, "God has shed a few tears on us,
then we all watched with wonder and amazement as the
ground soaked the water up."
Indeed, after a morning of rain the ground was
virtually dry with even the parking fields clear of
mud.
Tucker and co-chair Dr. Lee Carter bestowed upon James
Neely the "Extra Mile Award" for his upkeep of the
Relay for Life memorial fountain, which, Tucker said,
is the only one of its kind across the United States.
The memorial, now with 139 memorial stones, was last
year a gift from the Huntingdon Middle School team.
County Mayor Kenny McBride praised the efforts of both
Carroll County Relay for Life units. "I try to never
miss either event; it's a cause everyone should be
involved in; it's a disease that touches every family
in Carroll County."
Perhaps most inspirational, however, were the words of
honorary co-chairs David Thomas and Larry Thomason.
Honorary co-chairs Larry Thomason and David Thomas
David's ordeal began with swollen glands that
progressed to peeling skin, night sweats, severe back
pain and lethargy uncommon in a young, athletic man.
Following a biopsy, his doctor informed him in the
recovery room that he had cancer.
"When it really hurt is when my parents walked in the
room," he said. "I didn't want them to see me go
through what I was fixing to go through."
The day before surgery the following month, he did the
best thing he knew to do: He went to Joe's Barbecue
and ordered the biggest sandwich they had. There he
saw his former high school football coach, Mike
Mansfield, who let him know right away he wasn't
worried. "Sometimes you have to pretend it's the
fourth quarter, you're down by six, and it's fourth
and goal... sometimes it's up to you to what the
outcome is by the way you handle it."
David took the ball and ran with it. Told he had a 45
percent chance of beating the cancer, he said, "That's
fine with me, give me a one percent chance and I can
beat it."
Over 60 days of treatment with a ten-day reprieve in
the middle, he went from 220 pounds to 150, his tongue
so swollen it protruded from his mouth. "I felt like I
had the flu times 100 every day when I woke up but I
kept a positive, strong outlook," he said. In his
hospital room there was one rule: you cannot cry.
"I was in that room not to die but to start living
again," he declared.
He walked in endless laps around the nurse's station
at 23 laps per mile, but his best offense was family
and friends. "I had a great family, they were there
for me every single day. I have the best parents," he
said, pausing to gather his composure, "that anybody
could have."
He extolled his sisters and Hannah Hawkins, who, he
said, "was a great girlfriend at the time - the
Hawkins family was great."
He also counted a good group of friends among his
support system. "Every day I'd get a phone call or
letter from someone. And this community backed me; I
can't believe how many chickens were bought and
hamburgers cooked. I can't think of a greater place to
live than Carroll County."
He cites his number one reason for his success was his
faith in God. "I think I know him a little better now
than I did then, but without Him none of us has a
chance," he said, recalling his first thought upon
hearing his diagnosis was, "Why me?"
"That was the most selfish thing I could say," he said
with anguished voice, "because what have any of you
done to deserve this?"
In closing, he praised the efforts of the teams
involved in raising money for research: "Without
research, I wouldn't be standing here talking
tonight."
Co-chair Larry Thomason took the stage with a
disclaimer: "I'm thankful old age and treachery has
advantage over youth," he joked.
Previously afflicted with type II diabetes and heart
disease, he had rallied, unconcerned at those
diagnoses, feeling they were curable. "People have
bypass surgery all the time, I wasn't too concerned
about that," he said.
But when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he
said, "I got a weak feeling when he said that; I'll
never forget sitting in front of the doctor, him
looking me in the eye and saying you've got cancer,"
he said. "The first thing that went through my mind
was, 'There's no cure for this.'"
Following seven weeks of radiation and seed implants
over two years ago, Larry says, "I'm dong fine." He
urged increased awareness and lifestyle changes as
well as early detection tests for prostate and other
types of cancers.
"Most of all put your faith right here," he said,
"holding aloft his well-worn Bible. "That's what it's
all about; this is where the answers are."
Declaring he was a singer, not a speaker, the
well-known gospel singer shared two verses of
scripture before singing the song he says he has
adopted as his theme song: "God Wants to Hear You
Sing."
He read from Romans 8:32-39 and a single verse from
John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that
in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world."
Learn about cancer awareness and how the American
Cancer Society can help at
www.cancer.org.
Co-chairs Dr. Tim Tucker and Dr. Lee Carter
South Carroll Relay for Life
Awards
OVERALL CAMPSITE - 2004 Grand Champions:
Huntingdon Middle School
BEST CAMPSITE
Business/Industry
* 3rd Place - Norandal, USA
* 2nd Place - Huntingdon Health & Rehab
* 1st Place - Baptist Memorial Hospital Huntingdon
Community
* 3rd Place - Blood Sweat & Gears
* 2nd Place - Circle R Dude Ranch
* 1st Place - Team HHS
Church
* 3rd Place - First Methodist Church Bruceton
* 2nd Place - Eastview Baptist Church
* 1st Place - First Methodist Church Huntingdon
FINANCIAL MILESTONES
Raised $5000
* Dilday's Soggy Bottom Outlaws
* First Baptist Church Bruceton
* Norandal, USA
Raised $10000
* First Baptist Church Huntingdon
* First Methodist Church Huntingdon
* Huntingdon Church of Christ
* Huntingdon Middle School
* Mallard's/Stockyard
MOST MONEY RAISED
Business/Industry
* 3rd - Dilday's Soggy Bottom Outlaws, $5002.59
* 2nd - Norandal, USA, $8660.93
* 1st - Mallard's/Stockyard, $17,163.50
Community
* 3rd - Team HHS, $3296.87
* 2nd - Town of Huntingdon, $3789.00
* 1st - Blood Sweat & Gears, $4389.68
Church
* 3rd - First Baptist Church Huntingdon, $10,487.17
* 2nd - First Methodist Church Huntingdon, $10,500.43
* 1st - Huntingdon Church of Christ, $14,475.59
GRAND PRIZE
Overall Financial Wizards - Huntingdon Middle
School, $20,426.96
TOP LUMINARY SALES
* 3rd - Huntingdon Church of Christ
* 2nd - First Methodist Church Huntingdon
* 1st - Norandal, USA
PAINT THE COUNTY PURPLE - BOW SALES
* 3rd - Chase Funeral Home
* 2nd - First Baptist Church Huntingdon
* 1st - First Baptist Church Bruceton
Best T-shirt - Mallard's/Stockyard
Best Cancer Awareness - First Baptist Church
Bruceton
Most Team Spirit - Blood Sweat & Gears
Chair's Unsung Hero - First Baptist Church
Bruceton, Pam Gallimore
Wind Beneath My Wings - Huntingdon Church of
Christ, Rondle and Charlene Agee
Rookie Team of the Year - Mallard's/Stockyard
BEST FOOD
Dessert
* 3rd - Dilday's Soggy Bottom Outlaws
* 2nd - Huntingdon Middle School
* 1st - Huntingdon Church of Christ
Side Dish
* 3rd - Mallard's/Stockyard
* 2nd - Team Clarksburg
* 1st - Clark Street Baptist Church
Entrée
* 3rd - Eastview Baptist Church
* 2nd - Blood Sweat & Gears
* 1st - First Methodist Church Huntingdon
RELAY OLYMPICS
Individual Events
Wooden Spoon Relay
* 3rd - First Methodist Church Bruceton
* 2nd - Huntingdon Health & Rehab
* 1st - Blood Sweat & Gears
Egg Toss
* 3rd (tie) - Huntingdon Church of Christ
* 3rd (tie) - First Methodist Church Bruceton
* 2nd - Norandal, USA
* 1st - Huntingdon Middle School
Boxer Relay
* 3rd - Baptist Memorial Hospital Huntingdon
* 2nd - Team HHS
* 1st - Huntingdon Middle School
Orange Pass
* 3rd - Huntingdon Middle School
* 2nd - Team HHS
* 1st - Huntingdon Church of Christ
Three Legged Race
* 3rd - Blood Sweat & Gears
* 2nd - Chase Funeral Home
* 1st - Huntingdon Middle School
Bat Relay
* 3rd - Baptist Memorial Hospital Huntingdon
* 2nd - Team HHS
* 1st - Mallard's/Stockyard
Pantyhose Relay
* 3rd - Team HHS
* 2nd - Mallard's/Stockyard
* 1st - Huntingdon Middle School
Overall Champions
* 3rd (tie) - Blood Sweat & Gears
* 3rd (tie) - Huntingdon Church of Christ
* 3rd (tie) - Mallard's/Stockyard
* 2nd - Team HHS
* Grand Champions - Huntingdon Middle School
Dude Looks Like A Lady
* Best Skin - Huntingdon Church of Christ,
Chase Sanders
* Prettiest Hairdo - Team Clarksburg, James
Lewis
* Best Back - Chase Funeral Home, James Breeden
* Best Six Pack - Team HHS, Will Atkins
* Best Legs - First Methodist Church Bruceton,
Jerry Howell
* Best Personality - Team Clarksburg, James
Lewis
* Most Graceful (in heels) - Clark Street
Baptist Church, Jazz Johnson
* Miss Congeniality - Mallard's/Stockyard,
Hunter Stepp
* People's Choice Award - Huntingdon Church of
Christ, Chase Sanders
* 3rd Maid - Norandal, USA, Casey Corder
* 2nd Maid - First Methodist Church Huntingdon,
Jonathan Mullikin
* 1st Maid - Huntingdon Middle School, Jason
Culbreath
* Queen - Blood Sweat & Gears, Wayne Ladner
Paper Wedding Dress Contest
* Winner First Methodist Church Huntingdon, Ashton
Courtney
