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Marathon walk will affirm value of life
By JORGE SANCHEZ © St. Petersburg Times, published April 26, 2001 INVERNESS -- The fifth annual Relay For Life cancer fundraiser returns to Citrus High on Friday and Saturday. The walkathon relay will begin at 6 p.m. Friday with an opening ceremony. After that, dozens of cancer survivors will take the first lap, known as the Victory Lap, around the football fieldat Citrus High. The cancer survivors are called individually to the track and take their lap as a group. Then the teams will walk in relay fashion for the next 18 hours. The first lap will be led by a bagpipe player. This year's event has 20 teams of at least 10 members each. Team members raise money with sponsorships before the event. The final lap is scheduled for noon Saturday. The relay is organized by a committee led by Becky Vaughn, who has led the event since its inception. She started the Relay For Life in memory of four uncles, farmers in Kansas, who died of cancer that she said was brought on by exposure to pesticides. "It's just an honor that they keep asking me to come back every year," Vaughn said. "We have a lot of new teams, and it's nice to see the excitement on their faces after they've been here a while." Last year the Relay For Life raised $83,727. This year's goal is $50,000. The money is donated to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, which uses it for a variety of programs, including providing cancer patients with transportation to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. "If you're a cancer survivor, we just want you to show up. You don't have to bring anything or pay anything. This is to honor you," Vaughn said. Cancer survivors get a red sash and a T-shirt for participating in the victory lap. A buffet will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. for them. The Relay For Life transforms the Citrus High football field into a tent city, with the teams camping out during the night and participating in games. To keep the walkers' spirits up during the long event, things like a pie eating contest are scheduled. The pie eating begins at 9:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a Jeopardy contest. An egg-in-spoon race is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday. First United Methodist Church is sponsoring a children's activity area with pony rides, face painting and games. Another highlight of the event is the luminaria service, scheduled for 9 p.m. Friday. Hundreds of luminarias lining the walking path will be lit, along with many more in the football stands, arranged to spell out "CURE." As part of the fun, several local entertainers are scheduled to perform. Among them are Sally Langlois, a singer who also does a Marilyn Monroe impersonation, John Baucin, an Elvis impersonator, country singers Two Thorns and a Rose, Lita Losfton and Justin & Friends. Deputies from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office will jog instead of walk around the track. When they aren't jogging, they will barbecue and donate the money from that to the relay. After the final lap at noon, relay organizers will hand out several spirit awards. Other events include cancer awareness information booths and specialty vendors for mastectomy supplies. Admission to the Relay For Life is free. Spectators can enter the field to visit with walkers, or sit in the stands and watch. For information, call 637-5577.
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