CARNIVAL FOR A CURE
It has been nearly a year-and-a-half since Shelley Rebekah Richburg was diagnosed with leukemia, specifically on the last day of her mother’s last treatment for endometrial cancer.
Richburg and her mother, Linda, will be just two survivors who are celebrated Friday night as the 2016 Clarendon County Relay for Life season culminates with the main event itself from 6 p.m. to midnight at Manning High School’s Ramsey Stadium.
“We want everyone to come out and have a good family fun-filled night with us as we celebrate survivors and caregivers, and as we also remember those we lost to cancer in the last year,” said Relay for Life Co-chairwoman Leigh Ann Maynard.
This year’s Relay theme is “Carnival for a Cure,” and more than 20 teams out on the field will have booths with carnival games, food and other prizes offered for a donation to the American Cancer Society.
“We will have a photo booth provided by Re/Max that makes one appear to be in a hot air balloon, which is their symbol,” said Relay for Life Co-chairman Robert J. “Bobby” Baker. “We will have the race car driven by Justin Shorter, who was diagnosed with colon cancer this year. We will have bounce houses, boiled peanuts, games and much more.”
There will also be a dunking booth with local celebrities like Rep. Bobby Ridgeway, Manning City Councilman Clayton Pack and Col. Alexander “Herc” Conyers, along with many others.
Food will range from SnoCones and slushies to hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy and popcorn.
“We went with cotton candy and popcorn for that carnival feel,” said Lucy Comstock, captain of the Barnyard Buddies team, which will also feature the characters that appear each year at Relay.
The event will begin with registration at 6 p.m. The Dancer’s Workshop will take the stage at 6:30 p.m., prior to opening ceremonies, which will begin at 7 p.m. with Karen “Lady Kay” Hilton delivering “The National Anthem.”
After brief introductions, survivors will make the first lap around the track, followed by caregivers on the second lap. On the third lap all may join in the walk.
Sound and music will
be provided by Seacoast Church at Manning, and Carolina Dance Academy will perform about 7:30 p.m.
“It’s going to be a great time,” said Survivor Chairwoman Pat Fenters, a two-time breast cancer survivor. “Relay always means so much for the survivors who come out and take part, and we love to see everyone come out and celebrate our struggles and our victories.”
She said Relay is also a time to remember those lost in the past year to cancer, like Kerrie Cribb and Nell Black.
“During the luminary service, the entire stadium is dark, except for the luminaries being lit,” she said. “We have several people read the names of all luminaries, which are made in honor of and memory of cancer survivors and those who have passed from cancer, respectively.”
Luminary bags, which are $10, may still be purchased by either visiting The Manning Times, 230 E Boyce St. in Manning, or by buying them the night of Relay. Special gold luminary bags are $20.
“The monies raised go to the American Cancer Society, which spends the money on research on various forms of cancer,” said Relay for Life liaison Debbie Alexander.
The society also helps various cancer patients throughout the country, and recently aided the late Kerrie Cribb during a trip to M.D. Anderson in Texas for treatment.
“ACS can provide vouchers for room and board when patients have to travel far from home for treatment,” Alexander said. “The ACS also has a hotline, which keeps track of all registered patients, and you can call in and get advice.”
For example, a caregiver for someone with cancer suffering the effects of chemotherapy can call into the hotline, have a representative pull up the patient’s information, and find food recommendations for the patient that might make them feel less ill and more likely to eat.
Participants in Friday night’s relay are encouraged to bring out their donations, which will be accepted to play myriad carnival games, the dunking booth and the bounce houses, along with the various carnival-style foods.
“It’s going to be a really family night,” Maynard said. “We want everyone to come out and support this great cause so we can fight back against cancer.”
For more information on Relay for Life, call Baker or Maynard at (803) 435-8422.
