for fund-raising record

Staff Writer

If the Union County Relay for Life can achieve its fund raising goal of $100,000 Friday night, a second history-making landmark also will be reached.

“We encourage everyone to help us reach our goal and if we do that, we will top the $1 million mark in fund raising since Relay started in Union County in 1996,” said Torance Inman, co-chair of the Relay with Beth Lancaster.

A reception for cancer survivors at Clemson Extension kicks off the Relay at 6 p.m. The reception is sponsored by Hospice Care of South Carolina, Total Care and Oakmont of Union.

“We encourage all survivors, whether they received an invitation or not, to be there,” Inman said.

The opening ceremony on the Union County Fairgrounds begins at 7 p.m. Participating with Mrs. Lancaster and Inman will be the Rev. Carol Caldwell of Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, who is a cancer survivor; along with the Union County High School JROTC and the barber shop quartet, Brass Lantern.

Immediately following, cancer survivors will be recognized.

“Cheering them on will be the Top Cats and the Union County High School cheerleaders,” Inman said. “And there will be a sky diving team led by Mark Lancaster, Survivors will make the first lap around the track, followed by the teams.”

The Top Cats then will lead a children/youth lap with Buzz, the Union County High mascot and McGruff the crime dog.

Then a group of children in kindergarten through fourth grade at Foster Park Elementary School who raised $940 in two and a half weeks for Relay by taking pledges and reading books will be recognized.

The kindergarten students, Ann Alexander and Madeline Alexander, raised over $100 each. Other students in the top five are Cameron Stevens, Dexlie Inman and Ethan Song.

Entertainment will include Brass Lantern, saxophonist Jared Knight, who is youth director at Mon-Aetna Baptist Church and Carl Brunson of Mullins, who is a one-man band.

Around 9:30 p.m. a luminary service will be held.

“It promises to be different,” Inman said. “The theme of this year's Relay is ‘Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back,' and we will celebrate and remember during the luminary service.”

At the close of the luminary service, cancer survivor Sonny Crocker will present a fireworks show.

“He does a good job and donates it all to Relay,” Inman said.

Team talent will follow fireworks.

There will be inflatable slides and other attractions for children.

“There will be a tremendous amount of different foods, from fruit and fruit drinks to hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, funnel cakes and ribbon fries,” Inman said.

A silent auction will feature TVs donated by Disney and two basketball autographed by the entire Clemson team, including coach Oliver Purnell.

The basketballs were donated by Union County native and Clemson player Trevor Booker, Mrs. Lancaster said.

“It's going to be a great night,” Mrs. Lancaster said. “We look forward to everyone coming out and participating and having a good time. If you have never been to a Relay, we invite you to come out and see what we are about, eat supper with us, the entertainment is free. Come and support the survivors.”