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Twenty teams took part in the event. Much of the money will benefit cancer programs in Florida.
By JORGE SANCHEZ
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 30, 2001
They walked, sang songs, played games and walked a lot more Friday and Saturday at the fifth annual Relay for Life, a walk-a-thon fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
By the time the 20 teams of walkers wearily completed their final laps at noon Saturday, many of them bore expressions of grim determination. Gone was the excitement and giddiness of the night before. These last few laps under the hot sun were a testament to the dedication in the battle to find a cure for all cancers.
By the time the walking ended, the 20 teams raised $66,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Although some money goes to the national organization, most of it benefits hospitals in Citrus County and elsewhere in Florida, said Becky Vaughn, who has led the Relay for Life committee since the event began five years ago.
"We have a lot of programs for cancer patients," she said. "We use the money to pay for transportation to treatment centers, and for programs like the "Feel Good, Look Great" for women undergoing chemotherapy."
The Feel Good, Look Great program helps women who lose their hair and whose complexion worsens because of cancer treatments. They get wigs and turbans and receive a $400 makeup kit and advice from makeup experts.
Another program is Man to Man, a support group for prostate cancer survivors. Some of the money is also used to pay for the Citrus County cancer society chapter's office in Inverness.
The money also pays for pamphlets and education, said Dr. Joe Bennett, a Relay for Life committee member.
"Every person diagnosed with cancer in Citrus County gets an extensive information packet," he said. "These cost $13 each."
Bennett said that only about 10 percent of the fundraising money is used as seed money for the national cancer society for administrative and fundraising costs. About 25 percent goes toward research for a cure, and the rest stays in Florida and helps fund cancer programs at Shands at the University of Florida teaching hospital in Gainesville, the University of Miami and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.
"We also provide six local scholarships to cancer survivors," he said.
Among the many cancer survivors who walked the first lap, known as the Victory Lap, on Friday afternoon was Joan Cecil of Inverness. She was diagnosed with cancer in her left eye 10 years ago and underwent radiation treatment. She also helped the Young Marines team during the relay.
"It's very emotional," she said of the event. "It's wonderful to see all these people who have survived cancer and contain the hope. That's the biggest part of it in some ways. If you don't have hope, it doesn't work."
The following teams won spirit awards at the conclusion of the Relay for Life: The Robert Boissenault Cancer Institute "Cheeseburgers in Paradise" team won the prize for most money raised with $12,607; the "Pennies from Heaven" team came in second with $8,432 and the Citrus County Sheriff's Office came in third with $5,620.
The best participation award went to First United Methodist Church of Inverness for operating the children's games area and participating in the walking.