Patrick Countians Rally for "Relay"!

Volunteers who worked so hard to make this year's Patrick County Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society a gigantic success celebrated their victory in the battle against cancer Thursday night, June 28th, during a covered dish dinner at the Patrick County Community Center in Stuart. Robin Minter, American Cancer Society Community Manager for Patrick County, reported that to date the Patrick County Relay for Life 2007 campaign has raised $62,351 + and money is still coming in. That represents an unbelievable 484% increase over the approximately $10,000 raised the previous year.

Patrick Countians are to be commended and congratulated on this dramatic turnaround and revival of an event that is vital to the search for a cure for cancer. This money goes for cancer research and for wonderful programs and services that benefit local cancer patients and caregivers. These include Reach to Recovery, that offers one-on-one support and visits for women with breast cancer by carefully selected and trained breast cancer survivor....Road to Recovery, conductd by volunteer drivers who use their own vehicles and gas while donating their time to transport patients to chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or consultations to set up these cancer treatments...Look Good , Feel Better, a 2-hour workship conducted by volunteer cosmetologists to help a woman cope with the side effects of cancer treatment and help restore her sense of inner and outer beauty...Man to Man to benefit men with prostate cancer and their family members....and so many more. For more information on these or other programs that we support with our local dollars call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

I would like to personally thank the faithful listening audience of WHEO radio. Because of your support of our May 19th radio-thon for the American Cancer Society, the WHEO Relay for Life team, the Kilowatts for a Cure in Memory of Sandra Merritt Rogers, was the top fundraising team this year. We raised $17,240 during the radio-thon (If you haven't send in your pledged donation, please mail check payable to the American Cancer Society to WHEO, 3824 Wayside Rd., Stuart, VA 24171). Because of your support of this 12-hour radio broadcast, I was honored to be named the top individual fundraiser in the Relay for Life this year. However, the credit for this great success goes to the people of Patrick County who are so faithful to support worthy causes like the fight against cancer and to assist those who are in need in our community. I would also like to thank the myriad of volunteers and the talented musicians who gave of their time and talents to make the radio-thon one of the most successful fundrasing efforts in the 50 year history of the radio station. I also commend our leadership team of Robin Minter, at the regional level, and locally, Lavergne Collins and Betty Conner. I am so proud of you, Patrick County, and honored to be a part of this loving community. Because of our efforts in this year's Relay for Life, we have moved a little closer to the day when cancer will be no more!

Minter reported that the top 5 Relay for Life fund raising teams this year were: WHEO'S Kilowatts for a Cure ($17,240)...the Hilltop Hustlers (Vernon and Linda Harris' team), $4,889...Fields of Hope (Patrick County Social Services Department), $3,089...the Rockcastle Ramblers (Garland Cockram's team), $2,771....and Angels in the Outfield (Kathy Adams' team), $2,745.

The top 5 individual fund raisers were: Richard Rogers, $17,240...Patsy Baliles, $1,095...Faye Brannon, $825...Linda Harris, $485...and Jesse Mae Verson, $445.

This year's Relay for Life, thanks in large part to the efforts of Cancer Survisors' Chairman Vernon Harris, reached an amazing 88 cancer survivors compared to only 6 survivors last year. A total of 33 teams participated in this year's Relay in Patrick County...including 12 churches, 9 school teams, 3 family and friends teams, 5 businesses, 3 civic teams, and one government team. Each team and each individual is to be commended! I know that we all have been blessed and drawn closer together as a result of this magnificent, community-wide, team effort that made this, by far, the most successful Relay for Life in the history of Patrick County! Thank you again. Having celebrated in our victory in this battle, it is time to get back to work preparing for next year's Relay and our ultimate victory in the war on cancer!

Gratefully and lovingly yours,
Richard