By Cindy Morley
Special to The Citizen
The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step…
— Lao Tzu
Last April, thousands took those single steps along the runway at Atlanta Regional Airport at Falcon Field in Peachtree City in the 2011 Fayette County Relay for Life.
Now, the journey continues…
Organizers of the 2012 Relay For Life will gather next Thursday, November 15, at the Commemorative Air Force hangar in Peachtree City at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the successes of 2011 and begin preparing for the 2012 event in their annual kickoff. And they’re asking the community to join them.
One of the highlights of the evening will be announcing the Honorary Chair for this year, Ms. Frances Meaders.
Frances Meaders was a cover girl for Fayette Woman Magazine In November of last year and was called “The Mother of Peachtree City.”
And while almost everyone knows Frances Meaders, few know her as a cancer survivor. During the kickoff, she will share her story with survivors, caretakers, and those whose loved ones have lost the battle.
The kickoff will also pay tribute to those who made the 2011 Relay for Life a huge success. With more than 500 cancer survivors in attendance at the 2011 Relay in April, and more than $500,000 being raised already this year, the 2011 Relay For Life in Fayette County was a record breaking year. The 2011 Relay — the signature fundraiser for The American Cancer Society– featured 130 teams and nearly 2,000 registered participants.
Andrew Carter, owner of Concert Audio, the company that provides sound and stage to many Relays across the state of Georgia, estimates that there were 4,500 people in attendance this year.
“Everyone was excited about the move to the (Regional) airport. It turned out exactly the way the Planning Committee and I envisioned it,” said Kim Westwood, Community Manager of Fayette County.
And it wasn’t just a Fayette County crowd. The Relay For Life of Fayette County attracted participants from many areas. Of the nearly 2000 registered participants, there were 13 states represented and 90 different cities in the state of Georgia.
The Torch of Hope will also be lit as part of this year’s ceremony.
”The Relay For Life is a fundraiser, there is no doubt about it, but in the course of raising that money, we provide our constituents an experience like no other. The outpouring of love and support that Relay gives not only to cancer survivors but also to their caregivers is nothing short of miraculous,” said Westwood.
The Relay For Life of Fayette County is the Official Corporate Relay of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and is the “Jewel in the Crown” for Delta’s new Airport Relays, of which there were eight this year all across the country.
For many, the favorite part of the The Relay For Life is the Luminary Ceremony. In April, 235 torches were sold along with thousands of luminary bags each in honor of or in memory of a loved one who has battled cancer. There was a silent lap around the candlelit track that was begun by a bag piper playing “Amazing Grace.”
The torches were placed on top of a small hill entitled Hope Hill and were quite dramatic to see from the entire track.
The event takes place all night, to symbolize the fact that “Cancer never sleeps so neither do we,” said Westwood.
The event closes with a Fight back Ceremony where everyone vows to continue the fight against cancer.
The American Cancer Society is a volunteer health organization that supports cancer survivors with local programs and services and helps raise over $140 Million per year in Research Grants to find a cure. There is a website and a toll free number (1.800.ACS.2345) so that we are available to help Every Community, Every Day, with Every Cancer.
The Relay For Life of Fayette County for 2012 will be held May 18, 2012 at the Atlanta Regional Airport, Falcon Field, in Peachtree City.
