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Event History
Relay for Life started in
Tacoma, WA in 1985 when Dr. Gordie Klatt ran and walked solo around the
track at the University of Puget Sound for 24 hours, raising more than
$27,000 for the fight against cancer. From there grew the American Cancer Society's
nationwide signature event, Relay For Life. What started as
one man's dream is now an event taking place in over thousands of communities
across the country as well as in Puerto Rico and Guam. Most importantly,
it is raising millions of dollars to fund our life saving programs of
research, advocacy and service --
Local
Event History
Person County held it's first
annual fundraiser in 1990, it was called Making Strides. That year the
community raised $6,000. The first event was chaired by Sheila Van Hoy. In 1996 the event was changed to an overnight
event, symbolizing cancer patients living with cancer 24 hours per day. The
dollar amount raised is always incredible for a such small community.
We continue to have a successful event year after year, regardless of the
economy, because of dedicated support from the community and people like you, people willing to
help make a difference.
The people of Person County have raised over
$2.6M
for Relay for Life during
the past sixteen years. The 1998-1999, 1999-2000 event as well as the
2001-2002 event
was recognized
as the #1 Relay for Life event in the country per capita
for it's population division. Last year we were once again named a top 10
community in
the nation for our fund-raising. The money raised really makes a
difference by funding research to look for a cure.
Sheila Clayton Van Hoy co-chaired
the event for thirteen years. Her leadership and commitment really made an impact
in shaping our local event. A Special thank you goes out to
her for her many years of dedication to the Relay for Life
event and for sharing her vision with us.
Person County's Relay
for Life has been very successful over the last sixteen years, but our
goal is finding a cure for cancer not just raising money. During these same
years, we have lost many friends who were dear to us in Person County. This
proves we still have a lot of work yet to do.!
Jim Graham & Sheila Clayton Van Hoy
PERSON COUNTY
CONTRIBUTIONS
Person County
Contributions
Relay for Life
| 1990 |
$6,000 |
| 1991 |
$17,000 |
| 1992 |
$23,000 |
| 1993 |
$35,000 |
| 1994 |
$50,000 |
| 1995 |
$55,000 |
| 1996 |
$86,000 |
| 1997 |
$150,000 |
| 1998 |
$197,000 |
| 1999 |
$239,000 |
| 2000 |
290,000 |
| 2001 |
337,000 |
| 2002 |
272,303 |
| 2003 |
225,000 |
| 2004 |
236,000 |
| 2005 |
206,000 |
| 2006 |
232,450 |
| 2007 |
? |
| Totals
to Date |
$2,656,753 |
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