Relay raises more than $95,000
COSHOCTON – The 2014 Coshocton County Relay for Life is in the books with a weekend filled with laughter, friends, tears and more than $95,000 raised to fund the fight against cancer. Julie Kiser and Heather Pope, co-chairs of this year’s event, thanked everyone who participated. Julie said, “I relay because of my granddad, James McFarland who lost his battle in 2005 to cancer and also our cousin who lost her battle in 2007. It’s a family affair that we hold close to our hearts and this is my way to give back and help fight the disease. The many hours are worth it because we know that people are fighting and someday there will be a cure for cancer and someone won’t have to hear those dreaded words, ‘You have cancer.’”
Heather said, “It is a family affair. I started relaying back in 2007 after our cousin passed away from cancer. I have a lot of clients at the salon that I work at that have been affected with cancer and it has affected me so much the past couple of years that I just want to do everything that I can do to help them out.”
“We are one of the only Relay’s in Ohio that is a full 24 hour event. It is a lot of work that we put into this and it is so overwhelming to see the amount of people that come out here to support the Relay. It’s a great feeling – there are no other words to say.”
Pope said that just seeing the number of people at the opening ceremony that take the first lap, “It makes you speechless just to see all the people that have been affected in this community and all the support that we give them. I hope there is day when we don’t see all of those purple shirts – they’ll all be gone and we will find a cure for it.”
ACS representative Steven Gillis said, “This is my first Relay and I am proud of every single team that we have here. You guys have done an amazing job. I thank all of you very much for what you have done.”
Keene United Methodist Church was the top fundraiser with $16,636.52 raised. Rounding out the top five teams were: River View Bears with $8,639; Fresno Bible Church, $8,420; Team Annin at $7,727 raised; and Home Loan Savings Bank with $6,002.32.
mark@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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