Anson County is gearing up for the 2008 American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. This year’s event will take place on May 2 & 3, 2008 at Anson High School . In preparation for the event, the public is invited to attend a KICKOFF CELEBRATION LUNCHEON, on Wednesday January 9, 2007 from 12pm to 1pm at the First Baptist Church on Lee Ave in Uptown Wadesboro. The guest speaker will be an Anson County cancer survivor.

The luncheon is free and anyone interested in participating in the 2008 Relay For Life is invited to attend. Kickoff is designed to be a time to get geared up for the upcoming relay season, as well as a time to find out more about this fun and worthwhile event developed to help raise funds to enable the fight against cancer to continue. Teams may sign up for the 2008 Relay season at kickoff. Teams will also receive their information packets at the luncheon.

Anson County’s 2008 Relay For Life chairperson is Crystal McLendon . She works at South Piedmont Community College . Crystal and her committee have already been very active in the community. Relay For Life had a float in both the Homecoming Parade and the Wadesboro Chris tmas Parade.

Please mark your calendars for this date, as the first of the year is quickly approaching. To find out more about the kickoff luncheon or to learn how you can get involved in this year’s Relay For Life, please call 704-465-9009 or email ansoncountyrelay@yahoo.com.

Despite the messy weather, Anson County Relay For Life was a huge success. The grand total of all money raised was $100,026, which far surpassed the original county goal of $75,000. Out of the 61 registered Relay teams in the county, 49 set up a campsite and 7 braved the weather and stayed all night.

The “Best Decorated Campsite” Award went to Hopewell United Methodist Church. This team’s them was “Knocking Out Cancer”, and they dressed up their campsite with a mini boxing ring.

The “Most Spirited Team” Award went to Lilesville Elementary School. Despite the recent death of their team captain Karen Currie, this team carried on Karen’s dedication to the cause and ended up raising more money than any other school in the county.

The top fundraising team was CMH. Their team captain Nichole Cox led this team to raise over $12,000. Due to the rain, the luminary ceremony was unable to be held at Relay. The Relay Committee plans to hold the luminary ceremony on Friday, June 1st from 9pm to 10pm in Uptown Wadesboro. The Relay Committee would just like to thank everyone who helped to make this event a huge success.

Please stress to your team members that the parking lot on the Hwy 74 side (across from Walmart) is just for survivors (they have a parking pass to park in there). Your team may drive through and unload at the gate, but unless you are a survivor with a parking pass, you must park in the student parking lot on the Anson Jr. High Rd side.

All teams can come on Friday to the field from 12pm until 5pm to set up their tents. All tents must be up by 5pm. If you need to leave your tent and other stuff at your campsite on Friday, it will be safe. There will be committee members at the school from 12pm on.

Suggestions For Things To Bring To Relay
Sweater or light jacket
Raingear/umbrella (just in case)
Snacks and Drinks (however food and drinks will be sold there)
Lawn Chair/Blankets
Sleeping Bag and tent if you are spending the night
Insect repellent
Sunscreen and Sunglasses or Hat
Board games and/or cards
If small children, please bring things for them to play with (coloring books, toys, ect)
Wet wipes (to wipe your hands or face off)
Extra toilet paper (just in case)

Remember
No smoking
No gum on track
No in-line skates or skateboards
No alcoholic beverages
No pets allowed

And don’t forget there will not be a power outlet for your team to use on the field so don’t bring anything that requires power.

Relay For Life is just weeks away and that means that all of you who have been patiently waiting to cut your hair off for Locks of Love will finally get your chance! Relay starts at 6:00pm on Friday, May 4, 2007. Connie Beam from Expressions Salon will be there from 6:00pm until 8:30pm to cut hair for Locks of Love. At 9:00pm the night of Relay, Expressions Salon will be giving out a bag full of professional hair care products for the person who gave the most hair. Everyone who donates their hair will also have there name put in a raffle for other prizes. As a reminder, below are the guidelines that your hair must meet in order to donate:
Hair needs to be clean and dry.
Hair may be colored or permed, but not chemically damaged.
Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.
Hair should be a minimum of 10 inches to be used as a hair piece or a minimum of 5 inches to be sold at market and the money earned will go to Locks of Love.

If your hair doesn’t follow these guidelines, we will not be able to take it. Also, many have expressed that they would like to go ahead and cut their hair off prior to Relay. Locks of Love donors may go to any salon of their choice prior to Relay and have their hair cut off, but they must bring the hair to the Locks of Love tent the night of Relay between 6:00pm and 8:30pm to be eligible for the prizes. The night of Relay, Expressions Salon will be pulling hair back in a low pony tail and cutting it off only. The licensed beautician onsite will not be able to fix hair and style it that night. However, Expressions Salon will be making appointments for Saturday morning to style Locks of Love donor’s hair. That includes a dry cut and style. A discounted price will be given for this cut and style and it is based on how much hair is given the night before. When hair is donated at Relay, as special button will be given out stating that you donated your hair to Locks of Love. For more information about donating your hair at Relay, please call Connie Beam at 704-694-2926. For more information on Locks of Love, please go to www.locksoflove.org

The Anson County Relay For Life Committee will be hosting an Adult Men’s Softball Tournament on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at Little Park in Wadesboro. This will be a double elimination tournament, so each team is guaranteed the opportunity to play at least two games. The team entry fee is $200. This entry fee includes softballs and drinks during the tournament for all registered players. Trophies will be given to the first and second place winners. Please call Bobbie Ann Walker at 704-994-9492 to learn more about the tournament or to register a team. The deadline for registering a team is March 14, 2007. Only ten teams will be allowed to enter the tournament so call today to ensure your team becomes entered in the event. All money raised will go to Anson County’s Relay For Life