2010 Relay for Life is a huge success
To the editor:
Another Beautiful Day in Paradise at Fort Myers Beach.
This year’s relay was filled with sunshine and fun. Twenty teams made up the core of the relay, providing food, games, chance drawings for prizes and lots of entertainment to raise monies for the American Cancer Society. There were activites for the children with a water slide, bouncing ball castle, face painting and balloon clowns and a hula hoop relay. We even had a wedding ceremony that occurred within sight of the relay.
Eric Tibbs, our event chairman, and Bill Kline of the Royal Pelican Team were our “Ms Relay” contestants this year. They weren’t the most attractive gals ever but they did pass their purses asking for additional donations for the relay!
For the exercise enthusiasts there was Zumba, Yoga, Aerobics and Tai Chi demonstrations encouraging participation entertaining the lap walkers. There were 24 Sunshine Sponsor Signs donated by businesses and teams circling this year’s track. Luminarias spelled out LOVE and HOPE in the center of the track. The Survivor Lap kicked off our Relay with continual lap walking for an on-going 18 hours. An all-inspiring ‘Ceremony at Dusk’ lit our luminaries and reminded everyone of the ongoing struggle we face in fighting cancer. Taps blown at sunset and a beautiful sand sculpture created by Master Sand Sculpture Katie Corning of the Beach set the events for the evening. Throughout the night team members walked laps and enjoyed the camaraderie with additional activities and announcements of winners for the Team Prizes.
Our ending ceremony at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning concluded this year’s relay. This year’s teams and committee goal is to raise $100,000 by mid-April. This Relay event has gone a long way in reaching this lofty goal. We thank everyone who has helped in making it such a success. The generosity of the beach community, businesses and individuals is overwhelming.
Rose Loudermilk
Fort Myers Beach