A Reflection on the Relay For Life Kickoff

My PR class planned and executed the Relay For Life of Baldwin County Kickoff event on the Evening of November 19 at Northside Baptist Church. In the beginning, we all competed in teams of three to pitch ideas for the event, and it was decided that our theme would be "Celebrate a Memory." a birthday party extravaganza complete with a banner, balloon arch, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, cole slaw, chips, cookies, cupcakes, and a candy bar.

Our class did a great job of working together to pull the event together. As a member of the media team, I wrote the press release about the event (which made front page of both of our local newspapers!) but once we got down to the "nitty gritty" so to speak I helped out the food and decorating teams as well. One thing that I have learned in my various jobs and as a student learning about PR is that versatility is the key. If you are assigned one task, be prepared to help out your teammates with others as needed. Although I wrote the press release, I also wrapped and tied ribbon around silverware, stirred a giant tub of baked beans, and grilled out with my best friend Nick who I recruited to help me man the grill. :) This brings up another important key to success: everyone should have a friend they could call on for help. Nick answered his phone one hour before we needed to start grilling and said he would be there, and he also helped out last year when our class did "paint the hill green" a PR event for GCSU Baseball. It nice to have friends that you can call on to be there no matter the task.

Another thing that we all learned during the event is that not everything will go as planned. Another PR class was responsible for bringing us 100 cupcakes, and only 2 people from that class remembered to bring them. Disaster was avoided thanks to Dr. Carter who went to a local grocery store and purchased them, but this event just shows that you should be prepared for anything. Things will fall through no matter what, and you have to be prepared to cope. Even with the grill sitation, Nick and I were cooking 100 hot dogs and 100 hamburgers on two small grills, one of which was falling apart. The burgers also were not exactly hand made patties, so some of them just fell right apart on the grill, nonetheless, as with any event, you just have to do the best you can with what you've got and remain positive.

In the end, the event was attended by over 100 guests, who watched a powerpoint presentation of local cancer survivors, enjoyed a delicious meal, and vowed to support the Relay For Life with their fight against cancer. I was honored to help make a difference with such a worthwhile organization and I am so proud of the work my classmates and I did. Way to go team PR Fantasy Football!

Local Cancer Survivor's Story

Sue Carr, 81, is not just a two-year survivor of breast cancer; she is a beloved mother of three and grandmother of seven, a school teacher of 41 years, and part owner of The Attic, an antique store in downtown Milledgeville.

“When I was diagnosed,” said Carr, “I was not frightened one bit.”

After diagnosing her cancer in 2007, her doctors remained calm and assured her that the cancer would not be fatal. Carr considers herself very lucky to have been diagnosed early, and she finished with daily radiation treatment in 32 days.

Her daughter, Patricia Smith, who was diagnosed in 2001, was not so lucky. Her entire breast was removed because of a six-centimeter tumor that had gone unnoticed for five to six years prior to proper diagnosis. Smith faced radiation treatment, numerous reconstructive surgeries, and chemotherapy.

“She was a fighter,” said Carr of her daughter. “She would go in for chemo on Fridays, sleep all of Saturday and Sunday, and be back to work on Monday. I don’t know how she did it.”

Today, both Sue and her daughter are cancer-free, enjoying each new day they are blessed with. Carr is a proud survivor, who has advice for others fighting the battle against cancer.

“Have a belief that the Lord is going to be with you, stay positive, and be happy,” said Carr. “Determination has a lot to do with it.”

These strong women have boldly faced and conquered the number one cause of death in the U.S., but unfortunately there are thousands of others who lose their battles. More than 1,500 U.S. citizens die each day from cancer, but organizations like The American Cancer Society and Relay For Life are fighting to lower this number each day, encouraging people to create awareness and join the millions who are working to help develop a cure.

Relay For Life Team Captains Wanted

For each day that is “just another day” for most, there are thousands who cherish that day as a gift, a chance to live life to the fullest while battling cancer.

Relay For Life of Baldwin County gives community members the chance to show their support and give strength to these people who are fighting bravely for their lives. This year’s Relay Kickoff will be held at Northside Baptist Church Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. and is open to all team captains and anyone who would like to become involved in the 2010 Relay For Life of Baldwin County.

In the U.S. alone, cancer claims more than 1,500 lives each day and is responsible for one in every four deaths.

The American Cancer Society is working to change these statistics with Relay For Life. It is a source of healing and comfort for those who have battled cancer or lost loved ones to the terrible disease, offering everyone the chance to work together to save lives, create awareness, and work towards finding a cure.

Relay is a life-changing event that allows thousands of people in over 20 countries to join together to celebrate, remember, and fight back against cancer, is not just about fund-raising; it’s about one person making a difference. It is a way for schools, churches, businesses, and civil organizations to join together and work toward a common goal: ending cancer within this lifetime.

“Our theme for Relay this year is ‘Celebrate a Memory’,” said Jan Nutt, Event Chair, Relay For Life of Baldwin County. “Memories of past Relays will be celebrated at as we create new memories and remember that the present is a wonderful gift.”

Despite current economic hardships, last year the Relay For Life of Baldwin County raised $174,860. This year, the organization intends to build on that success utilizing new volunteers from all over Baldwin.

“It would be fantastic if local churches, businesses and civic organizations who have not participated in Relay in the past would send representatives to the kickoff and find out what Relay is all about,” said Nutt. “I would like to see an even larger segment of Baldwin County join others around the globe to make a world with less cancer and more birthdays a reality.”