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November 2008 |
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Local residents walk at Relay for Life event |
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Written by Thomas Watson
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Monday, 30 June 2008 |
The American Cancer Society again held its annual Relay for Life of Nolan County on Friday and Saturday at the Sweetwater High School track.
Sweetwater citizens came out in full force to support the cause and walk in honor of, or in memory of, a friend or family member who has been affected by cancer. The funds raised at Relay for Life save lives by funding cutting-edge cancer research, early detection and prevention education, advocacy efforts, and life-affirming patient services.
With the community’s involvement, the ACS is able to save lives, help those currently battling cancer and empower all to fight back against the disease.
This year’s events kicked off with a Survivors Lap at 7 p.m. Friday. During the lap, event organizers called out the names of those cancer survivors who were in attendance and able to walk the lap. Other attendees clapped, cheered and joined in the walk with the survivors in a huge outpouring of respect and emotion.
The Relay for Life event itself began a few minutes later with Sweetwater citizens young and old walking together on the track. The walk itself lasted from roughly 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday. During that time, there was music provided by the 4th Day band, as well as refreshments and games for children and adults including a bean bag toss, limbo, can toss, face painting, mini-golf contest and Ducks in a Pool, the ice drop relay, country bumpkin horseshoes, clothes pin relay, cherry game, cheeto head game, belly dance competition, banana pong race, balloon burst, bad painting contest, pool noodle race, 2x4 race, find the lifesaver relay, water balloon volleyball, toilet paper race, three legged race, goldfish eating/singing contest, balloon pop contest, mummy wrapping contest and a chopstick/marshmallow relay race.
At 10 p.m., citizens came off the track and sat together for the lighting of the luminaria ceremony. Luminaria bags represent a person who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to be touched by that experience. These small, paper bags, each one dedicated to a cancer survivor or victim, lined the inside lane of the entire high school track.
Event organizers turned off the track lights as the bags were lit up, and in a solemn ceremony, listed the names of the all the victims of cancer represented by the luminaria bags. Many citizens could be seen holding hands, hugging each other and crying as they remembered their loved ones.
The following teams participated and walked in this year’s Relay for Life, including: American Legion Post, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Brookshires, Cantu family and friends, Emmanuel Fellowship Church, First Baptist Church, First Financial Bank, First United Methodist Church, Georgia Pacific, Sweetwater Jaycees, Rolling Plains Health Clinic, Pyromaniacs, TSTC West Texas, Texas National Bank and Wal-Mart.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 July 2008 )
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Every year we would all come together at my grandmother
McFaul-Coplen's home in Roscoe. She is no longer with us, but my family now
celebrates Thankgiving in my home. My parents, brothers, and their families all
bring a dish. I wanted to carry on what my grandmother started, and love and miss
all my family in Sweetwater and Roscoe. - Tracey Flake (Early, Texas)
Last year I had chosen my fall leaf garland with gold candles
however, at the last minute I had to redecorate with my snowman collection due to
the 5-6 inches of snow we accumulated! - Kandy Myers (Sweetwater, TX)
Every year we get together at Mom and Dad's to eat until we
can't breath. Then we proceed to decorate the tree. Everyone has their own ornament.
Once the tree is decorated, we all lay under the tree, turn the overhead light off
and say, "Ooooooooh, Aaaaaaaaah". - Mel King (Tuscola)
I don't know if y'all remember my parents, James and Sarah Rycroft, or not -- but years ago Daddy would secure the National Guard Armory in Sweetwater for Thanksgiving and would invite anyone in Sweetwater that didn't have family to be with to join us for dinner. We would cook all week long. We also delivered Thanksgiving dinner to people that were "home bound".Daddy would set up 3 or 4 televisions for the ball games. Folks would sit around and play domino. It always turned into quite a social event. Daddy couldn't stand the thought that anyone would be left alone on Thanksgiving. Mother and Daddy have been gone for some time now, but I'll bet there are folks that will remember this . - Sherron Foster (Paradise, TX) |
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