Relay goal surpassed
COSHOCTON – Several new teams participated in this year’s Relay for Life with Team HICCUP being one. Team Captain Janet Wood said, “I lost my dad to cancer and a lot of people that I know and love have been battling cancer so we decided this year that we were going to start a team. We came up with the name HICCUP – which is – Helping Individuals Cure Cancer by Uniting People – so we walk for everybody, everyone that has a cause. We’re out here and we’re doing it.”
“We have 38 team members – we just came in with a goal of $100 per team member – we did that. We set a goal of $1,000 and we hit almost $4,000. Next year we want to double it and get $8,000.”
“I think that this event means a lot to cancer survivors. We have three survivors on our team so we’re walking for them.”
“I’m hoping that we can get more people here next year. Coshocton usually backs things like this and supports you when you need it. We need this in our community, 100 percent.”
McWane Ductile came out in a big way this year, raising almost $20,000 and earning the honor of being the largest fundraising team. Emily Bradford and Joe Carter were co-captains and Carter said, “My mother passed away from cancer and I have a sister that is currently a survivor of breast cancer. This is something that is really near and dear to my heart. It means a lot to all of us being down here – I believe that we raised $4,700 last year. We set a $10,000 goal and we’ll be well over that.”
“I know that we have a lot of retirees – we do a lunch once a month – that before we did Relay they prodded us to get involved. They’re very proud of this group and what we’re doing.”
“I’m excited to hear the totals and I think it’s been a great Relay.”
McWane Ductile also coordinated a battle of the bands with 12db, SOL, Crackerslang and Big Fat Dog competing. SOL won the event and all of the bands gave their prize money back to the Relay. Carter said, “That was just awesome. I know that a lot of the people in the bands had a member of their family that passed away from cancer or is a survivor. They were more than happy to do it and excited to do it again in the future.”
At the closing ceremony event co-chair Julie Kiser, who along with Heather Pope has co-chaired the event for the past three years, said, “We have had a great three years and we are very appreciative for all that you’ve done. We feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to do this. This is extremely important for Heather and I. We have both lost family members and we just thank you and we hope to continue Relaying with all of you.”
Missy Wilson also helped co-chair this year’s event and will be leading the charge for the 2016 Relay for Life.
mark@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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