Relay For Life holds kickoff meeting in Trenton

By Cindy Jo Ayers

Verna Mae Wilson, along with a host of chair people and team captains attended the kickoff meeting for the 2010 Gilchrist-Levy Relay for Life on Thursday, October 22 at the Trenton Community Center.
The chair people for the Relay’s many activities were on hand to give a brief overview of the May event.

Relay For Life organizers are shown, back row (l-r): Natashia Allen, Shawna Hart and Kyle Tatoris.
Middle row (l-r): Connie Sanchez, Carin Floyd and Kyle Stone.
Front row (l-r): Chelsea Woodard and Verna Mae Wilson.

The 2010 event is planned for May 7-8 at the Trenton High School track.
Natasha Allen, chairperson for team development/retention, told the story of her young son, Austin Allen’s battle with cancer.
Natasha said that she will not only be walking at the Relay for her own son, but also for 3-year-old Natalie who has leukemia and her friend DeWayne Yates. She went on to say that several people who work with her at Gentiva Health Services have close family and friends who have been battling cancer this year.
The 2010 chair people for the American Cancer Society’s Gilchrist -Levy Relay for Life are Event Chair Verna Mae Wilson, Event Co-Chair Connie Sanchez, Team Development/Retention Natasha Allen, Finance Chair Shawna Hart, Finance Co. Chair Kyle Tatorisa, Survivor Chair Carin Floyd, Activities Chair Kyle Stone and Luminaria Chair Chelsea Woodard.
Event Chair Verna Mae Wilson said that so far there are more teams signed up for the 2010 Relay than actually participated in the 2009 Relay. The teams that are already signed up are Gentiva Health Services, Haven Hospice, Ameris Bank, Kids World, Capital City Bank, Gilchrist County Courthouse, Trenton Medical Center, Inc., Badcock and Trenton Elementary.
Team captains were given captain packets, which included team information, posters, and event brochures.
Those attending were reminded that 16 Gilchrist/Levy famlies stayed at Hope Lodge last year while their family members were treated for cancer in Gainesville. This is just one way that the local Relay money is used.
If any group wishes to participate by having a Relay for Life team or and individual who wants to participate by volunteering during the Relay they are asked to contact Verna Mae Wilson at 463-3170 or Connie Sanchez at 463-3194.
For more information about the Relay and the American Cancer Society contact Courtney Smith at (352) 376-6866, Ext. 5059 or courtney.smith@cancer.org