Winslow Relay For Life huge success

Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, May 19 with registration of 16 teams and the sale of 392 luminarias, Winslow's first annual Relay For Life to benefit the American Cancer Society started off with great enthusiasm. That enthusiasm never waned during the 12 hours that team members spent running, walking, strolling around or sitting or sleeping on the Ron Bellman track at Winslow High School. Most participants remained awake [some said next year the loudspeakers are going to be running softer!!] and active for the entire relay - cooking, eating, playing games, conversing and listening to music during the times they were not doing their half-hour stint on the track. The infield was filled with tents, cots, campers, charcoal grills and tables laden with food.

Winslowites once again came forward with love, generousity and energy and helped raise $6181 for the American Cancer Society to use in research and education. The society sent their coordinator Nikki Baldwin from Flagstaff to assist. She had only one comment: "Wow!"

Two teams that participated from the Hopi Tribe were winners of the most money raised and the best decorated tent site. Both of these teams were great assets to this fund-raising event.

Local cancer survivors kicked off the evening with the first lap around the track in their honor. At 10 p.m. the luminaries, nearly circling the track, were lit. A time of silence was observed as participants spent moments remembering loved ones whose lives had been lost to cancer or honoring those who have survived the battle.

Now committees need to form and start preparing for Relay For Life 2001. We need volunteers to come forward as committee chairpersons. Some of the areas needing chairpersons are: General Relay Chairman, Sponsorship, Team Recruitment, Entertainment, Games and Contests, Logistics, Publicity, Luminarias, Survivors, Food and Beverage, Registration/ Accounting and Cancer Awareness. Work needs to begin now in order to successfully continue this community event - not to mention making it bigger and better.

You can find out more about each of the above areas by calling George Stegmeir at 289-2690 (days) or Linda Stegmeir at 289-2955 (days) or either of them at 289-5586 (evenings).