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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Relay for Life raises $103,000...thanks to all who supported!!

Last weekend's Relay for Life raised $103,000 for the local American Cancer Society chapter, drawing a robust crowd of about 2,500 people for the opening ceremonies.Last year's event raised $114,000, but with a few more fundraisers yet to be held, this year's total could surpass the 2008 figure."The event was very well attended," said Kirstin Horsley of the ACS here. "We had one of our largest crowds and a record number of teams with 63. We're very pleased."The event, at College View Middle School, started at 7 p.m. Friday and was scheduled to run 12 hours but got cut short at 3 a.m. Saturday when a storm drowned out the festivities."It was a perfect night, until 3 in the morning," Horsley said. "Everybody was having so much fun with activities and sales. Kids had fun with face paintings."All the cancer survivors were introduced and told how long they've survived. One women even asked for a husband."The money raised will go to education, advocacy, research and service.Two local college students received $1,000 scholarships -- Haleigh Brewer, who attends the University of Kentucky, and Meghan Lambrich of Owensboro Community and Technical College. Both are pediatric cancer survivors.Upcoming events include a cornhole tournament at Johnny B's II, 4820 Frederica St., at 2 p.m. Saturday. Registration is at 1:30 p.m.A poker run motorcycle event is planned for late June or July, but a specific date hasn't been set yet, Horsley said.And a car show is set for June 13 at OCTC. Registration is from 8 a.m. to noon. The event includes door prizes, a silent auction and a model car contest for kids.Rich Suwanski, 691-7315, rsuwanski@messenger-inquirer.com