West Pasco (July 28, 2009) - On July 21st fifteen
committee and team members from the Relay For Life of Trinity visited
Hope Lodge in Tampa and served ice cream sundaes to thirty cancer
patients and caregivers currently residing at the Lodge. This Hope Lodge
is located near Moffit Cancer Center, but one young resident from
Brooksville is receiving his cancer treatment at All Children’s Hospital
in St. Petersburg.
The 19 year old had a spinal tap that day and had not felt up to eating
anything until the ice cream arrived. A man from Mount Dora said he was
going to enjoy the ice cream because once he begins receiving radiation
therapy for his throat cancer he will be unable to swallow and will need
to have a gastrostomy tube inserted directly into his stomach so that he
can receive liquid feedings.
The
Lodge has 40 two-room suites and can house one cancer patient and one
caregiver in each suite. There is a movie room, a game and puzzle room,
a pool room and a communal dining room. The Lodge provides
free
lodging and support during a time that is very trying for the cancer
patient and caregiver. Most residents stay for three to six weeks, but
the longest resident stayed for three years. The American Cancer Society
built this Hope Lodge in 2002. It cost $10 million to build and costs $1
million per year to maintain. The staff, the patients and their
caregivers voiced their gratitude for the Relay For Life and the money
it has raised because part of that money helps maintain the Lodge.
Relay For Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society. It
is a unique, fun-filled, overnight event that brings together
communities to celebrate survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed
with cancer), remember loved ones who have battled this deadly disease
and raise money for the fight against cancer. Money raised funds cancer
research, education, advocacy and patient services (like Hope Lodge).
Relay For Life is the largest fundraising walk in the nation. The 2009
Relay For Life of Trinity was the largest in Pasco County, raising
$116,000 for the fight against cancer. Many volunteers are needed to
organize such an event - to recruit teams, seek community support and
sponsorships, coordinate logistics, plan entertainment, and lend their
support in any way needed.
The 2010 Relay For Life of Trinity will be held in the stadium at
Mitchell High School in May 2010. The theme will be “Once Upon a Cure”.
Mary Davis, Marketing & Publicity Chair of the 2010 Relay For Life of
Trinity, says, “Individuals who are willing to give their time and
energy to help plan this exciting event will be making a commitment to
fight back against cancer so that one day all cancer survivors will live
happily ever after.”
The committee for the American Cancer
Society’s Relay For Life of Trinity is looking for volunteers to help
plan their 2010 Relay. They are holding a planning meeting on Tuesday,
August 4, at 6 p.m. at the Joseppi’s Italian Touch Eatery (4016 Little
Road, NPR). For more information on the August 4th meeting or the Relay
For Life of Trinity, please contact Event Chair, Sheila Stiles, at
727-944-8602 – day or 727-849-1397 – evening. To find a Relay For Life
in your community, contact the American Cancer Society at
813-949-0291.
Rob Kellog and Cameo Salon & Spas’ Master Stylist Richard Santana
each hold a 10” lock of Tiffany Kellog hair that she donated to raise
money in the fight against cancer.
Taunya Baker of Wesley Chapel with family and friends,
held a carwash at the Wesley Chapel Dairy Queen October 25 and have
raised over $2,000 in the fight Breast Cancer. They will be leaving for
‘3 day’ where they will go for a 60 mile walk in just 3 days. For more
information go to
www.the3day.org
or call Taunya at 731-8342.
Over
a thousand concerned citizens came out to the Little Everglades Steeple
Chase to raise funds in support of the fight against Breast Cancer.
Sponsors donated money for every lap completed by the walkers at the
‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Pasco’ event October 25 in Dade
City.
Providing cold bottled water for all the volunteers were the folks
at the Pasco Regional Medical Center during the ‘Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer of Pasco’ event October 25 in Dade City.
Supporters of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer gathered at Kafe
Kokopelli in Dade City Thursday, August 21, to honor breast cancer
survivors and learn about the upcoming event which will take place on
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at The Little Everglades Ranch in Dade
City. If you would like to learn more and to form a team, visit
makingstrides.acsevents.org/pasco or contact Pat Giurtino at (813)
949-0291 x114 or email
pasco.msabc@cancer.org
.
Many
cancer survivors walked around the track for the first lap of the Land
O’ Lakes Relay For Life and then enjoyed good cuisine prepared for and
donated by cancer survivor Ben Pumo, owner of Benedetto’s Ristorante
Italiano. The event was held on May 9 and 10th at Sunlake
High School. The Class of 2010 from Sunlake High School participated in
the 2008 Relay For Life held on May 9 and 10th. Their school
is now the host of the Relay in Land O’ Lakes.
The Interact Club from Land O’ Lakes High School
headed up by teacher and coach Kris Keppel (on right) again participated
in the Relay For Life that was held on May 9 and 10th at
Sunlake High School. Missing from photo is Committee Member Nick Molinet
who was out collecting money from the teams. The event changed
locations from Pine View Middle School but several teams participated
and made lots of money for the American Cancer Society.
New
River Elementary teachers, calling themselves “Teacher Mutant Ninja
Turtles” participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life
held Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, at Wiregrass Ranch High School.
Top-Left: Cathy Horstman, Jill Kornick, Amy Brown, and Pam Willoughby.
Bottom Row: Fawn Snider, Peyton Leidy, Jessi Leidy, and Brenna Horstman.
…Color Guard, Pack148, Pack 203, Pack 177 & Troop 203, all from Wesley
Chapel, participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life
Opening Ceremonies held Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, at Wiregrass
Ranch High School. Wiregrass Ranch High School Student Government
members Skylar Busch, Taylor Upchurch, Jordan Dosal, Elizabeth Alfonso,
and Sonal Vallabh, participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay
For Life held Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10, at Wiregrass Ranch High
School.… Children from Sand Pine Elementary participated in the
American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life Opening Ceremonies.
4898-p…
Katherine Harrison, of Wiregrass Ranch High School (from left), Amanda
Brown, of Wesley Chapel High School, and Steven Brown, of Weightman
Middle School were happy to be at the Relay For Life at Wesley Chapel
High School on April 18. 4887… Hannah Mitchell (on left), and
Courtney Prengaman, of Weightman Middle School, ran around the Wesley
Chapel High School track during the Relay For Life on April 18. They
were part of the Weightman Middle School National Junior Honor Society
team. 5008-p….The Wesley Chapel Elementary School Team Grease had
an impressive team at the Wesley Chapel Relay For Life. 4937-p…Many
survivors were on hand to support the Relay For Life at Wesley Chapel
High School on April 18. The eighteen-hour event is one of the largest
fundraisers for the American Cancer Society.
Howard and David Bellamy entertained
the crowd at the San Antonio Relay For Life on April 12....4266…
Chandler Miller, (from left), a student at Pasco Middle School, and
brothers Shawn Miller, of San Antonio Elementary, and Bradley Miller, of
Pasco Middle School, got their faces painted at the San Antonio Relay
For Life....4218… Barbara Sessa, (center), was a winner in the Hat Contest at the San Antonio
Relay For Life held on April 12. Also pictured are Janet Kato (on
left), and Sam Sessa. They are part of the Flo Mingo Bay Team and
raised $2805 removing (plastic pink) flamingos from yards....4194-p…Megan Heister (from left), of Centennial Middle School, walked 40 laps for her
team at the San Antonio Relay For Life on April 12. She is pictured
with mom Nikki, and dad Bill, holding Cassidy, of Florida Hospital Day
Care.
Sacred Heart Early Childhood
Center_4204-p… The team of Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center sold
barbequed pork sandwiches and coffee and donuts to raise money during
the San Antonio Relay For Life on April 12...4178… Over
2,000 luminaries were set up to memorialize loved ones at the San
Antonio Relay For Life on April 12...4198-p… The Youth Group of St. Anthony Catholic Church
had quite a team for the San Antonio Relay For Life on April 12.
The event started with a
dinner served for cancer survivors at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. Opening
Ceremonies was held at Zephyrhills High School football field /
track with over 20 teams walking. Thousands enjoyed the celebration
of life and memorials to those who have passed with cancer with the
lighting of the luminaria at dark. Even Elvis (Billy Lindsey)
appeared at the Zephyrhills Relay for Life event for the American
Cancer Society on Friday, March 28. Elvis is one of many slated to
entertain that evening. The relay teams walked all night -
"because cancer never sleeps." The Zephyrhills Relay for Life will
concluded around 10 a.m. Saturday morning. Many came for a while to
join us in the fight against cancer. The Relay for Life fundraiser
helps cancer patients in the East Pasco County area. To be a
sponsor, donate, help out, or for more information call Co-Chairman,
George Carpenter, at 813-395-3568, e-mail Co-Chair, Tammy Struble,
atflstruble@verizon.netor visit the event web
site at
www.events.cancer.org/rflzephyrhillsfl.
The U.S. Army
JROTC Bulldog Raiders worked hard and played hard at the Relay for Life
at Zephyrhills High School March 28.…The girls from Peggy’s Dance Place,
Kiersten Quattlebaum, Emmalise Feliciano, Abby Card, Abigail Ramey and
Lauren Stallworth, entertained the crowd at the Relay for Life at
Zephyrhills High School . …The team from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills
were out in force at this years Relay for Life at Zephyrhills High
School …The parents and students at West Zephyrhills Elementary were
well represented and had fun with bowling and dunking games at
Zephyrhills High School.
The Bellamy
Brothers will highlight
the
San Antonio Relay For Life
April 12, 2008
Pasco County's
favorite musical duo, The Bellamy Brothers, will
highlight the Relay For Life on April 12 in the San
Antonio City Park. Their benefit concert, from 7:00 -
8:30 p.m., will be the centerpiece of a day and night
of musical entertainment and games. All donations will
be welcome and will be given to the American Cancer
Society.
Relay For Life is
the signature event for the American Cancer Society.
The event will begin at 12:00 noon on Saturday with the
Survivors' Walk and will close at 6:00 a.m.
Sunday. Last year, San Antonio's first Relay For Life,
twenty-one teams earned $62,000, far surpassing the
$35,000 goal. This year's goal is $69,000. To date,
over $28,000 has been raised through donations and
off-site fundraisers.
Before, during,
and after the concert team members and others will be
walking the track around the park. Walkers will be on
the track for the entire 18 hours - "Cancer doesn't
sleep and neither will we!" Teams will have set up
campsites where they will sell food, games, and tickets
for chance drawings. At 9:00 p.m., following The
Bellamy Brothers' concert, the Ceremony of Hope will be
held. One thousand candles will be lit and placed
around the track honoring those who have survived their
fight with cancer and those who have lost their lives to
this disease. The luminaria will remain in place
throughout the night.
The Bellamy
Brothers, Howard and David, were born and raised in
nearby Darby and began their musical journey during
their childhoods. Without any formal training, they
mastered several instruments and in college started
playing paid gigs. Their first official gig was in
1968, playing a free show with their father at the San
Antonio Rattlesnake Roundup. Their big break came with
"Spiders & Snakes," written by David and performed by
Jim Staffford. "Spiders & Snakes" became a top 5 hit
and went on to sell three million copies. The brothers'
first hit was "Let Your Love Flow," followed by the
Grammy-winning "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body
(Would You Hold It Against Me)," "You Ain't Just
whistlin' Dixie," "Kids of the Baby Boom," "For All the
Wrong Reasons," and "Old Hippie." The Bellamy Brothers
have garnered more nominations than any other artist in
the Duo Category for the Country Music Association and
Academy of Country Music Awards and have received a
number of Grammy awards.
They were recently
nominated for their first Dove Awards in two
categories: Country Album ("Jesus Is Coming") and
Country Recorded song ("Drug Problem"). The awards will
be handed out at the 39th Annual Dove Awards on April
23, to be aired live on the Gospel Music Channel. "This
nomination means more to us than any we've received in
our career," say The Bellamy Brothers. "This album has
brought us full circle in our music and faith."
The Bellamy
Brothers travel extensively throughout the United States
and Europe. On their infrequent days off from the road,
they head the bus back to their 150-acre family ranch in
Darby. A working ranch, the spread consists of Purebred
Charlois cattle and quarter horses. Three generations
of the Bellamy family, headed by David and Howard's
mother, Frances, populate the homes clustered in the
family compound.
Anyone
interested in learning more about the San Antonio
Relay For Life may contact co-chair Patty Richter,
352-567-9997,
richterfp@embarqmail.com,
or Terri Gude,
352-585-2181
tgude@SACFCU.org,
or go online
to events.cancer.org/rflsanantoniofl. Businesses
interested in corporate sponsorship should contact
Donna Swart, 352-588-3631. For cancer information
24 hours a day, please visit
www.cancer.orgor call
1-800-ACS-2345.
Land O’ Lakes Relay For Life Survivors took their lap
around the track to start this year’s Relay held at Pine
View Middle School on April 27-28. The annual event is the
American Cancer Society’s Largest Fundraiser and this year
the committee will hand over a check for approximately
$90,000.
To read more of what was sent to The Laker,CLICK HERE:
The Wesley Chapel Relay For Life was
held on April 21-22 at Wesley Chapel High School. …
Hannah Williams and Brenna McPhee, 7th graders at
Terrace Community Middle School held at the Museum of
Science and Industry got to stay up late at the Wesley
Chapel Relay for Life on April 20th. …Thanks to Martine
Duncan of The Theater Doctor, the kids were treated to
state-of-the-art Outdoor Movie Theater with a large two
way screen that could be viewed from either direction
and a surround sound system for the kids at the Wesley
Chapel Relay for Life on April 20th. …North Pointe
Church of New Tampa was out in force at the Wesley
Chapel Relay for Life on April 20th. … The
over-achievers at Wesley Chapel Elementary Melissa Wolfe
Holly Hallam-Captain, Deb Reidy Amanda Novotny were in
character all night as Team China at the Wesley Chapel
Relay for Life on April 20th. …Manning the Rubber Ducky
contest are Logan Wolfe of Wesley Chapel Elementary,
Shelby Thompson of Weightman MS, Autumn Cooper of Wesley
Chapel Elementary, Stacie Reese of Stewart Middle School
and Connor Wolfe of Wesley Chapel Elementary at the
Wesley Chapel Relay for Life on April 20th. …Having a
blast at the Wesley Chapel Relay for Life on April 20th
are the scouts, Scout Leaders and Parents of Boy Scout
Troop 177 of the Gulf Coast Region. …Ya cannot beat a
Scot, especially those from Weightman Middle School like
eight graders Geoff Degroot, Stuart Trimble, Tiffany
Cothran (Pineview MS), Emily Denbo, Cody Reeves and
Michael Sikes at the Wesley Chapel Relay for Life on
April 20th. …American General Finance (AGF) Manager
Angela Geraghte with her team, Brittney Keith of
Centennial Middle School (CMS), Kate Markley of CMS,
Christina Keppel of Zephyrhills High School (ZHS), Nikki
Keppel of ZHS and Lisa Cox of AGF. The group all marched
for a Mom with Breast cancer, a brother in law with lung
cancer and an aunt with Leukemia at the Wesley Chapel
Relay for Life on April 20th. …Sand Pine Elementary got
on board the Relay for life ship S.S. Sand Pine
Elementary with Megan Rottum, Helyn Maus, Jaime Valenta,
Sami Steers, Amanda Cypriano, Katie Clarke, parent
Stacey Rusch, Lisa Valenta and Mari Blank PTA. They
dedicated them efforts on behalf of Cheryl Komsky, past
PTA President for the previous two years, who recently
succumbed to cancer. …Things get a little crazy after
midnight at the Wesley Chapel Relay for Life held on
April 20th as the John Long Middle School Team Estelle
Lischaulk, Amanda Prince, Christina Prince, Leslie
Graber, Kim Monbarren, Suzanne Kleim, Chris Barber and
Torrina Mauradian go for a little cruise around the
infield. …Wesley Chapel High School National Honor
Society members Giovany Ramirez, Kendra Quinn, Jonecia
Mahan, Shelby DeLoach, and Tori Bidwell hang out in the
tent and wait their turn on the track to complete their
laps at the Wesley Chapel Relay for Life on April 20th.
…Wesley Chapel High School National Honor Society
members and friends complete their laps to raise money
for the Wesley Chapel Relay for Life on April 20th.
…Members of the Wesley Chapel High School Band, senior
Erica Updyke, junior Erik Velasquez, freshmen Jordan
Romero and Noelle Cox, Josh Hobbs, junior Anastasia
Cetrerikova, sophomore Hunter McInotsh and sophomore
Steven Sell. …Steven Somohano, a student at Weightman
Middle School, and his mom, Kristine Erwin, were part of
the Wesley Chapel Boy Scout Troop # 177 from Trinity
United Methodist Church Relay For Life Team.
… San Antonio Relay for Life
Event Chair Patty Richter is very proud of the effort all of the teams
did in their first year, raising both funds and awareness in the battle
against cancer on April 14th. She is joined by Tony Lister, Mayor
Pro-tem of San Antonio, Barbara Sessa, City Clerk of San Antonio and
teacher Kimberly Garrett. …Proud cancer survivor, Tom Lachance of
Southern Comfort Air Conditioning, Rikki Hickey and Weightman 7th grader
Kevin Lachance honoring his Grandfather Ed Lachance who recently passed
on and was active in Relay for Life and Team Roadrunners, at the San
Antonio Relay for Life on April 14th. … St Anthony Middle School Youth
Group kept busy walking laps and helping out at the San Antonio Relay
for Life on April 14th. …Tampa Bay Golf Country Club were represented by
a large contingency of friends and family of cancer survivors who walked
many laps and helped out at the San Antonio Relay for Life on April
14th. … San Antonio Relay for Life held during picture perfect weather
on April 14th was a great place for friends to meet up like Judy
Rittmeyer, Graydon ‘Major’ Clift (who’s wife was parking the car) and
Rita Wolfe, all of San Antonio. …Doing laps at the first ever San
Antonio Relay for Life event was Elizabeth Bauroth, six month old Lauren
Bauroth and Jeff Bauroth of San Antonio. If you happen to catch the
sparkle in little Lauren’s eye it just might be that of her late Grandma
Gloria who got to know her well before passing just three weeks
ago.…Having a blast at the San Antonio Relay for Life on April 14th are
teams from Looking Good Salon in San Antonio Valerie, Michele Homan and
Jane Elizabeth, and representing the State Champion Navy JROTC, from
Pasco High Adelhaida Safic, Ci’Mya Williams and Melanie Smith, and Nancy
Wormwood and John Doerr from Paradise Lakes in Land O’Lakes.