NewsRelay for Life raises money, hope to fight cancer
By Diane Vance/Gate City Staff WriterWhite paper bags lined the course for teams, families and friends to walk all night Friday in the ninth annual Relay for Life of South Lee County.
After dusk, those white bags glowed from within as candles were lit in honor and memory of loved ones who have been diagnosed with cancer and living and those who have died from cancer. Some bags had only the names of the person and others had scrawled messages of love from friends, children, grandchildren, cousins and other family members. On the grassy knoll east of the First Christian Church parking lot in Keokuk, white bags spelled out HOPE, the annual theme of Relay for Life. Hope for a cure to cancer. The relay is a premier national fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society. In Keokuk, the Davis family was “Campaigning for a Cure” in this presidential election year. Team members dressed in red, white and blue with team T-shirts featuring stars and stripes. Their tent was decorated with patriotic bunting and included a sign reading “Vote - yes, yes, yes, for a Cure.” Robin-egg-blue colored T-shirts distinguished Team Rockin' Robin, family members and friends of the late Robin Allerman. Team Trinity also wore blue of a different hue. On the front, their T-shirts said “Mend Our Broken Hearts, Cure Cancer” with a red heart separated by a jagged break. The back of the shirts said “Team Beth,” in honor of Beth Conn who died of cancer on Valentine's Day. “This is the first relay I've been to,” said retired Keokuk school teacher Janet Dinkle. “I won't stay all night but it was important to me to be here for Beth.” Black and white checks distinguished another team “Racing for a Cure.” The Keokuk Health Systems Team was “Stitching Up a Cure, We Cancervive” and offering a quilt for raffle. All Saints Catholic Church team members carried bright toy spinners because they urged, “Keep Spinning, We're Winning.” The Elks, distinguishable in bright teal T-shirts, were the “Chippers and Putters.” This year featured a survivors' picnic before the relay with entertainment by students from Rae Ann's School of Dance. During the relay, students from Glenda's School of Dance performed along side the walking course for all to enjoy. Each year, the teams can compete in collecting pop can tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City. This year's Relay for Life collected 621 pounds of tabs. The Elks won first place, collecting 290 pounds of tabs; Rockin Robin was second place with 188 pounds; All Saints collected 89 pounds; the Davis family collected 66 pounds; Cancervive collected 48 pounds; and KSB Insurance collected 10 pounds of tabs. Copyright © 2010 - Daily Gate City
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