The Duncan Banner

Local News

September 6, 2010

Helping save lives

Relay For Life raises more than $148,000

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — For Jarilyn Harris, one of the greatest moments of the 2009-10 Relay For Life of Stephens County campaign was when the numbers were revealed, and more than $138,000 had been raised. Harris, Relay county co-chairwoman, said the finals numbers came in and $148,482.02 was raised.

She said this was impressive, especially since the Relay For Life organization set the county’s Relay goal at $126,000 and the county set its goal at $130,000.

“I was happy with $138,000,” Harris said. “I was just blown away. We were $500 shy of Lawton. Look how much bigger they are than us.”

From the money raised, 70 percent will stay in Stephens County to help local people who are fighting cancer. Relay For Life is aimed at raising money for cancer research and preventive awareness.

Harris is going into her fifth year of being involved in Relay For Life of Stephens County. She said she’s always supported the cause, but it wasn’t until April 2006, that she finally was able to pull a team together to get involved.

She said she went to her church, and from that, two teams formed. But her involvement didn’t end when the teams formed.

In fact, after Gina Flesher became co-chairwoman for Relay, she invited Harris to become a committee member. And for the 2009-10 campaign, Harris and Flesher served together as co-chairs.

“After much praying, I became her co-chair,” Harris said.

She said she had fun as co-chairwoman, although she was considerably much busier with Relay than she has been in previous years. Harris said Flesher and the other committee members helped to make the campaign run smoothly.

Harris said, when people come together to take on the work, the project moves along easily. She said she expects the next campaign to be event better.

She said she is proud of all that was accomplished during the 2009-10 campaign.

“Overall, I thought Relay was fantastic,” Harris said.

Harris said she has enjoyed being involved in Relay For Life and will continue to do so because it is a meaningful and worthwhile project. She said getting involved is easy, and it takes just a little determination to raise a lot of money.

“It’s a lot of work, but if you are good at delegating, it runs pretty smooth,” Harris said.

In the first weekend of June of the campaign season, everyone involved in Relay For Life and members of the community comes together to celebrate the cancer survivors and to remember those who lost the battle. The objectives include raising money and having a good time doing it.

“If you don’t go, you’re missing out,” Harris said.



— Derrick Miller is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 160, or via e-mail at derrick.miller@duncanbanner.com.

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