The Duncan Banner

Local News

September 7, 2010

Relay for Life kicks off campaign

Interest sparking early for relay

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — On Aug. 31, the 2009-10 Relay For Life campaign came to a close. And Wednesday, the new campaign began.

Jarilyn Harris, this year’s county Relay co-chairwoman, said she has already been hearing from people who are interested in having teams this year and said some are planning to start early to make the 2010-11 campaign better than the previous one. Harris said 70 percent of the money raised from the Relay For Life will stay in Stephens County to help people with cancer, to continue research for a cure for cancer and to raise public awareness about cancer prevention.

“First of all, it’s going to be hard to top last year, but we’re going to do it,” Harris said.

Going beyond the more than $148,000 raised in the last campaign, may prove to be tough for the county. But Harris said this is one of her personal goals, although a goal has not been set by the Relay For Life organization for the Relay For Life of Stephens County.

In addition to improving on the money collected during the 2009-10 campaign, Harris said she has other goals for this year’s campaign.

She said one of her biggest goals is to get more community involvement. While much of last year’s campaign also focused on brining in more community involvement, Harris said she wants to continue to make Relay For Life an important part of the lives of the people of Stephens County.

Harris said she wants to get more people 25 years old and younger involved in Relay For Life. And she wants to continue to work with the committee to make the Relay campaign process run smoother.

The first captain’s meeting for the county Relay will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Duncan Regional Hospital Learning Center. She said she hopes teams will start early so they won’t feel rushed the closer they get to June.

“We encourage all teams to come back,” Harris said. “It’s not hard. It’s a lot of fun and very meaningful.”

People wanting to be on the committee can attend a committee meeting Oct. 3, Harris said.

“Anyone interested in being a committee member or helping a committee member can come,” Harris said.

This year, Harris’ co-chair is Kaleigh McDaniel. Harris said the committee will take some of the pressure off the two co-chairs by picking up some of the tasks needing to be accomplished.

“They make my and Kaleigh’s job easier,” Harris said. “It takes a lot of people to put on Relay For Life.”

Harris said she is ready to get started for the 2010-11 campaign.

“I’m excited,” Harris said. “We’re going to do things a little bit differently.”

Relay For Life is set for June 3 at Halliburton Stadium.



— 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.

Text Only
Local News