Relay Surpasses Fundraising Goal

DAYTON - For one hour every year, Dayton's football field goes dark during the Re- lay for Life ceremony in honor of those who have faced cancer.

The only glow on the field during the fifth annual Blue Mountain Relay for Life on Saturday, Sept. 15, came from candles inside hundreds of paper-sack luminaries along the inside of the track.

The stage set up in the cen- ter of the field was a congrega- tion point in the darkness, as relay speaker and coordinator Gerry Richter used a small flashlight to read about hope. Dwayne Ramsey read through several pages of names of local survivors and victims of cancer.

Music played softly over large speakers and the previ- ously chatting audience fell quiet and solemn in support of the families of those who have been affected by cancer.

Richter said there were 346 different individuals represent- ed by the luminaries lit during the ceremony. Some names were duplicated in the several- hundred luminary display, but Richter said it was neat to see so many people honored.

After the luminary ceremony, attendees took a lap around the track in the dark.

Event coordinator and vol- unteer Delphine Bailey said attendance was high for the luminary lap. Bailey estimated more than 400 people participated in the lap. She also said early in the evening the fund- raiser had surpassed the goal of raising $25,500. This amount is about $2,500 more than last year's total.

Bailey said she didn't hear any negative comments about the event and the volunteers heard lots of compliments about the events and activities at the fundraiser.

" Everyone is enjoying themselves," Bailey said.

The volunteers began set- ting up for the all-night event at 7:30 a.m. last Saturday and cleaned up Sunday through the afternoon. Luckily, Bailey said, they were able to enjoy the event, with little work neces- sary during the events.

Even with all of the fun events, the issue is still a very serious one.

Bailey said it was sobering to see all of the names on the luminaries and to hear the stories from survivors. The open- ing speaker for the event was a breast cancer survivor Ranee Phillips who Bailey said was incredibly impactful.

"She said if it weren't for this community, her family wouldn't have been able to eat," Bailey said.

At the entrance to the field, Dayton resident Samantha De- Voir made survivor key chains and bracelets out of parachute cord. The cord is woven into bracelets and key chains that can be unraveled to support a person's weight. DeVoir gave the example of a person who fell off the side of a cliff could be thrown some of the cord and pulled back to safety. DeVoir said she didn't think many of the fundraiser attendees would need to lift a person anytime soon, but the metaphor of a life- line still resonates with people who have faced a frightening disease.