Relay continues fight against cancer
Published 12:41 pm Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Emily Lewis, left, stands with Greg Lewis and Debbie Lewis. Debbie is celebrating 10 years of being cancer-free.
Sadie Nelson, center, was one of three 93-year-old survivors in attendance and she walked the Survivor Lap Saturday. At right is fellow cancer survivor Judy Bridges and at left is Max Whitlock.
Four generations of a family are shown participating in Saturday’s Relay for Life in Charlotte County. Pictured are, from left, Mildred Bowman, Hazel Bowman Smith, Josalyn Garner and Jamie Garner, who is a one-year cancer survivor.
Participants took part in a daylong Relay for Life on Saturday held at the Southside Virginia Community College Keysville campus to raise funds for the American Cancer Society (ACS). Families and individuals enjoyed live music and other activities. Event leader Bonnie Gilliam and participant Hazel Bowman Smith said the relay raised a little more than $149,000 with funds still coming in. They said the funds are expected to exceed $150,000.
Gilliam said the relay included residents who took laps around the track, a celebration for those who survived cancer and a luminary for survivors and those who died from cancer.
“The weather was beautiful,” Gilliam said. “We had a circus theme and everyone had a good time.”
Charlotte County is continuing its distinction of raising the most funds per capita of any relay in the United States for ACS.
“I think that is so significant,” Gilliam said.
