By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
The Relay for Life of Rowan County has received the Power of Hope Award from the American Cancer Society for having the most survivors per population at its annual fundraising event.
Rowan County registered 750 survivors for its main event on May 2-3 of this year, more per population than the other 71 events held in Region 5 of the South Atlantic Division.
“It’s just amazing,” said Tisha Goodwin, who chairs the Rowan Relay for Life Committee. “I am just so proud of our community and all the support it gives to Relay.”
The 2008 Rowan Relay for Life events raised $402,558.19 for the American Cancer Society, placing third in the state for the amount of money raised on a per capita basis and 21st in the nation. North Carolina leads the nation in the amount of money raised per capita in Relay events.
Goodwin said the Rowan Relay total has risen steadily every year since the $3,800 raised at its very first event in 1995.
Also receiving an award at the American Cancer Society’s Relay University held in Greensboro earlier this month was Becky Sifford, who coordinates the “Look Good, Feel Better” program for Rowan County. Sifford, who also heads up Relay’s Locks of Love Committee, was presented the Sunrise Award for the South Atlantic Division, which consists of states from Delaware to Florida.
“That is just huge,” Goodwin said. “I can’t imagine anybody more deserving than Becky for that. She feels so much compassion for the cancer patients.
“She leaves everybody feeling good, including herself. It’s just in her heart.”
Sifford is the second Rowan Relay volunteer to receive the award. Goodwin received it in 2001 when she coordinated the program, through which volunteers offer cancer patients assistance with makeup, hair, wigs, hats and turbans.
Goodwin and two other volunteers ó Debbie Martin and Juanita Messick ó represented Rowan County at this year’s annual Relay for Life University. In all, 800 Relay volunteers from the Carolinas attended.
Sitting in on classes and hearing about the problems other counties are facing made Goodwin even more proud of Rowan County.
“When I would mention how many people we had at Relay, they just quit talking,” she said. “It’s wonderful, our parking, the food, everything that a lot of counties are having trouble with, we just excel in all of it.
“It’s never been easier to be the chair of the Relay as it is now because everything is just running so smoothly.”
While other counties are trying to come up with ways to get the schools more involved in Relay, she said, the Rowan schools’ fundraising efforts account for a significant portion of the money raised.
Goodwin said Rowan is also unique in having strong church involvement and a good relationship with the local newspaper. “I told them what a wonderful relationship we have with the Salisbury Post,” she said. “I had no idea how rare that was and how blessed we are.”
One challenge that all Relays have in common is the weather. “That’s just something we have to tough out,” Goodwin said. “Everywhere else, we are just so blessed.”
Brooke Moose, senior community manager of the American Cancer Society’s South Atlantic Division said funds raised through Relay for Life events go to research, education, advocacy and patient services.
The Rowan County Relay for Life Committee is already gearing up for 2009.
Next year’s theme is “Celebrating Hope and Heroes,” and the kickoff event is set for Jan. 6 at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Fundraisers will be held throughout the year leading up to and following the main event on May 1-2, when teams of eight to 15 members will gather with tents and sleeping bags to participate in the overnight fundraising event. Survivors walk the opening lap and are honored in a luminary service.
People who have lost their lives to the disease are also remembered as part of the fundraiser.
For more information or to get involved with the Rowan County Relay for Life, contact Tisha Goodwin at 704-640-3463 or tishgood07@yahoo.com.