The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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  • Jana Benge, chairwoman of Alfalfa/Woods County Relay for Life, said last year the group raised more than $51,000 for cancer research though the goal was $24,000.

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March 6, 2010

Life support: Fundraising relay event faring well

By Joe Malan, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

WAYNOKA — Last year, Alfalfa/Woods County Relay for Life raised more than $51,000 for cancer research.

While that seems like an impressive number, what may be even more impressive is organizers were only expecting to raise $24,000.

“It was pretty incredible,” said Jana Benge, chairwoman for 2010 Alfalfa/Woods County Relay for Life program.

Benge and event coordinators have increased their goal this year to $51,500, only $500 more than they received last year.

This year’s Alfalfa/Woods County Relay for Life event will be 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. June 4-5 at the Cherokee High School track and football field.

It will mark the second year the event has been in Cherokee; it previously was in Alva.

Benge already is optimistic this year’s fundraising will top last year’s.

“We already have over 20 teams signed up this year,” she said. “We’re picking up new corporate sponsors every day.

Last year about 20 teams participated in the event.

Relay for Life is an annual event organized by American Cancer Society. These events have been organized around the world since the program started in 1985.

Prior to a Relay for Life event, teams work to raise money for cancer awareness and research.

At the actual event, which typically lasts from evening to morning, teams constantly walk laps with the goal of always having at least one team member on the track at all times.

Each Relay for Life event traditionally starts with a Survivors Lap, when cancer survivors are honored.

There’s a luminaria ceremony, too, during which individuals who lost their lives to cancer are remembered.

In January, Alfalfa/Woods County Relay for Life received three awards — The Five Star Relay Challenge, Exemplary Survivorship Standard Award and All American Award — at the annual Summit for the High Plains Region of American Cancer Society.

The Five Star Relay Challenge award is given to programs demonstrating excellence in themes of advocacy, fighting back, fundraising, standards and survivorship.

Exemplary Survivorship Standard Award is for programs that show a 10 percent increase of survivors on relay teams, in addition to other standards.

All American Award recognizes programs that adhere to the relay’s five developments: fundraising, event, leadership, team and survivorship.

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