Relay for Life prepares for next campaign

Friday, October 20, 2006

The Bourbon County Relay for Life organization is getting ready to round up teams for its 2007 fund raising campaign called "Ropin' For A Cure."

The organization's local chapter, which raises money each year for the American Cancer Society, has been meeting monthly to decide on a theme and schedule fund raising events for their 2007 campaign, which is following a traditional western theme next year, organization co-chairwoman Lavetta Simmons said.

While a list of the group's team recruitment and financial goals will not be released until later this month, the group's steering committee will work to outdo the number of registered teams that conducted fund raisers last year, 41, Simmons said.

"We are excited and ready for a ride, and hope you are too," Simmons and co-chairwoman Kristie Maycumber said in a recent statement to team captains.

The all-night relay walks take place in June each year, in which team members take turns walking around the track at Frary Field near Fort Scott High School, while other forms of entertainment and different activities take place to raise money for cancer research, advocacy, education and other services. The group came close to meeting their $58,000 goal last year, bringing in $57,648 through donations, fund raisers in the community, and the sales of luminaries, officials said.

The group brought in about $10,500 through sales of luminaries -- small bags that contain candles and feature the names of cancer survivors and victims, as well as caregivers for those suffering from the deadly disease -- exceeding their $8,000 goal.

Through the relay walks, considered to be the premier fund raiser for the ACS, the organization hopes to create awareness in the community and work toward finding a cure for cancer. The number of registered teams and money raised by the organization has grown the last few years as the group works to earn more attention from the community.

About 32 local businesses and corporate sponsors donated almost $32,000 to the organization last year. The group will also use a number of fund raising tools at their disposal to garner attention and raise money for a worthwhile cause, including the Bourbon County chapter's Internet site that was put in place last year. Bourbon County was one of two Southeast Kansas counties that used the Web site to enhance fund raising efforts last year.

The site provides team information, statistics, donation totals and other information relevant to the Relay for Life organization. People can also make donations on the site, which became a popular method of donating last year as more than $4,500 was raised through the site, officials said. The group will attempt to make better and more frequent use of the site next year.

The organization also plans to conduct a local queen contest next year as part of event festivities. That contest will be open to young girls in the area who are currently in the 6th through 12th grades, Simmons said. Participants will be asked to fill out applications and to write short essays explaining why they would like to be chosen the Relay for Life queen, she said.

The top 15 contestants will then be selected, with a winner being crowned during an official ceremony, of which a date has not yet been chosen, Simmons said. The deadline for submitting applications is Nov. 15. Local girls interested in entering the contest may contact Relay for Life team member Wendy Budd at (620) 223-4912.

Upcoming events for the organization include the Relay for Life University on Saturday, Nov. 18, in which teams can learn more information about the group's efforts. The Bourbon County Relay for Life will host the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Coffee on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007, with the organization's official kick-off event taking place two weeks later on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007.

The kick-off event is a must for all registered teams to attend to prepare for the drive toward the all-night relay walk in June, officials said. The steering committee plans to meet once a month through the year to plan the 2007 event. Other fall and winter fund raisers are scheduled to take place through the end of 2006.

For more information about Relay for Life, or to make a donation, contact Simmons at (620) 223-3670, or Maycumber at 223-1575.