By Judy Alexander
Many people rallied to make Relay for Life, the major American Cancer Society annual fundraiser, a success. GWTC members George Palmer, Gary Griffin & Peg Griffin were key players in the main organization of the 2002 event.
The work that goes into Relay is mind-boggling, & starts more than a year before it actually takes place; consequently, major planning has already begun on the 2003 event, for which Gary Griffin is the chairman.
More than 133 teams & 2,000 team members walked through the night Friday to raise money to battle the awful monster that seems to pervade even the healthiest lives in some way, & among those were plenty of Gulf Winds members. Some of us had lost family members & friends to cancer; some of us had experienced the cancer battle firsthand. Of the latter group, two wonderful ladies, Robbie Yost & Kathy Flippo, were actually on the GWTC team & represented us in a most dignified & inspiring way, first in the Survivor’s Lap that kicked off the Relay, & subsequently by walking additional laps for our team. What amazing people!
Tom Perkins & Judy Alexander manned the club’s tent & after Tim & Lisa Unger & the boys came out & put up the GWTC “feather,” there was no mistaking our identity at the Fairgrounds. Max Corbin, Judy’s step-son, also spent the night & gave play-by-play reports on the various wee-hours-of-the-morning activities Relay offered, such as the jello-eating contest at 2 AM & the tug-of-war at something like 4 AM! Tom had secured several items to raffle, which helped to raise additional money to bolster that which the team members had garnered. Many friends came out to visit, walk/run laps, offer assistance, & pay their respects during the luminaria ceremony to those whose lives were stolen from them. Brian Corbin & his Dad, who succumbed to cancer 2 years ago, were in one of the slides that flickered across the screen during the poignant song being sung throughout the slide presentation. There were not many dry eyes throughout the night & well into the morning, & many of the tears were shed joyfully.
Saturday morning found Brian Corbin & Bill Lott helping Tom take everything down & put it away.
If you have not participated in this awesome, inspiring & eye-opening event, you won’t be disappointed if you do become involved. Even some of the smallest & youngest members of GWTC, like Whitney Alexander & Samantha Corbin, were able to raise $100 each & walked many laps for our team.
How about it?