Pam Turner said cancer doesn’t sleep, so she won’t either.
Starting today, hundreds will gather for the 24th Annual Relay for Life of Lenoir County event. Fifty-one teams will lap the track at host site South Lenoir High School to show their support for cancer victims and survivors. The goal is to have a member from each team walking the track throughout the entire night.
Opening ceremony for the relay kicks off at 7 p.m. today with the event closing at noon Saturday. There is no entry fee for the public.
“We just represent cancer,” said Turner, the Relay chair. “It doesn’t sleep, so we won’t either.”
The Lenoir County relay season, where the organization raises funds for local cancer research, started in August 2012 and will last a year. More than $155,000 has been raised by the county with a $200,000 goal by Saturday.
Saturday will be focused on children, and organizers will tally the funds at noon to close the relay. The Relay is the big event to raise money for the year.
“We hope to pass the goal,” said Turner, who lost her father to lung cancer. “You cannot come to a relay event without crying. Sometime through the night, you’re going to cry.”
Cancer survivors will be the first group to walk the track, which will be lined with memorials for those who have succumbed to the disease.
“You’re standing at the track looking at these people who are fighting cancer,” Turner said. “They’re going through something some people have never even imagined going through, and they still have the courage.”
She has worked with Relay for seven years and has seen success in, “having more birthdays, which means people are living longer and … we’re finding cures.”
Relay for Life is comprised of a planning committee that coordinated the weekend event, featuring the relay teams, vendors and activities, such as a moon bounce for the children and a corn hole tournament.
JoAnne Dixon, who serves on the committee, has been with Relay nearly 10 years. She said co-workers form an unbreakable union after working together in the organization. If one of them is fighting a battle, they are all in it together.
“It’s just one big family,” said Dixon, who’s had friends with cancer and recently lost a relative to cancer. “(Relay for Life) is a way to help people.”
Teams are made up of local companies and individuals.
“There are times when you want to say something to someone, but you just don’t know what to say,” Dixon said. “With this, you don’t even have to say — you just do.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
Relay for Life of Lenoir County
Activities, vendors start at 5:30 p.m. today
Opening Relay for Life 2013 ceremony, 7 p.m. today
Walks continue through noon Saturday, when Relay closes
South Lenoir High School gymnasium
For more information, visit relayforlife.org/lenoirnc
