12/13/07
2008 Relay for Life kicks off at F.E. DuBose
By Joe Dowell

RACHEL DOWELL/Manning Times

Karen and Linzy Washington were featured performers at Thursday night’s Kickoff for the 2008 Relay for Life. Linzy is a cancer survivor and also gave a motivating speech that evening.

The F.E. DuBose Campus of Central Carolina Technical College played host on Thursday evening to one of the most highly anticipated events in Clarendon County every year. The “Kick-Off Celebration” held annually by Clarendon’s Relay For Life signals the start of its fund raising season each year.

The kick-off is always an up-lifting, joyous occasion and this year was no exception. The ceremonies were led by newly named co-chairs Pete and Janene Surette –Clarendon Relay’s first husband-wife team to split the roles and responsibilities of the chair position.

The first order of business for the night was to welcome and thank the present Relay volunteers, those who have been or are currently caregivers, and the courageous and high-spirited survivors of the disease. The theme for the 2008 season’s kickoff – “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back” – is fitting for the spirit and resolve of all those present at the event and involved with such an important cause in the Clarendon community.

The introductions were followed by an “Awards for 2007” ceremony presented by Beth Johnson, American Cancer Society’s Area Coordinator for this region. Awards were presented to Clarendon School District 2 for raising over $18,000 and having a 100 percent participation rate for its schools during the 2007 fundraising year. The 2007 Relay For Life Committee members were also recognized for raising almost $150,000 in Clarendon County during last year’s campaign. Each committee member was presented with a pin designating them as members of the “$100K Club for Clarendon County.”

Music was provided throughout the evening by singers Linzy Washington, a cancer survivor, and his wife Karen. The songs performed by the Washingtons rang with inspiring messages of courage, hope and perseverance.

Linzy Washington was also a survivor guest speaker at the event. He expressed the importance of being aware of your health, stating “early detection is key to beating the disease.”

There are already several fundraisers planned in Clarendon County to benefit the 2008 season.
A Relay golf tournament will be held at Shannon Greens Golf Club after the first of the year.

Nell Black of Manning has donated a quilt to be auctioned that she designed and assembled from 10 years of Relay t-shirts.

Clarendon County Dept. of Social Services is selling ribbons for $1 to honor or memorialize those with cancer or heart disease or soldiers in service to their country with purple, red and yellow, respectively.

The King Family Relay team has already completed an Olan Mills photo shoot in conjunction with Williams Chapel Christian Church and will hold another on Jan. 12 from 10-12 at the church.

The theme for the main Relay event, which will be held May 9 and 10, is “Racing for a Cure.” The theme for this particular event correlates with NASCAR’s Race in Darlington, S.C., scheduled for that same weekend.

For more information, or to be a part of the 2008 Relay, contact Pete Surette at (803) 418-9216 or email at petejr@sc.rr.com.