2015 Relay For Life is a success

Cancer survivors led a lap around the Moniteau County Fairgrounds to kickoff Relay For Life 2015 on Friday June 12.
Cancer survivors led a lap around the Moniteau County Fairgrounds to kickoff Relay For Life 2015 on Friday June 12.

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AP

New Orleans Saints cornerback Tracy Porter (22) reacts as he returns an interception 74 yards for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010.

CALIFORNIA - Battling the weather, the 15th annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Moniteau County was still considered a success Friday night at the Moniteau County Fairgrounds.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BOB COLEMAN -- 2/7/10--Lacy Morris of Fayetteville, Youth Intern (left) and Amelia Huddleston,18, of Springdale, dish out bowls of soup for the Souper Bowl fundraiser at First Presbyterian Church in Springdale Sunday morning. Proceeds from the soup lunch will go the Youth (***name of the group***) summer mission and to relief work in Haiti.

"Each year I take the fact that all these people come out and do this," said Jenny Brown, the event lead. "They raise the money and bear the weather. There have been people out here since 7 a.m. bearing the heat and chance of rain. They do it because they want to and want to raise the money for a good cause."

Starting with Paint the Town Purple last week and ending with a weather-shorten Relay event, as of Monday, June 15, 12 teams and 129 participants have raised $41,929.95 throughout the year.

"Since I've been on relay, this is our biggest year," said Brown. "We have a total of 12 teams, nine teams set up tonight. But we've had several teams raise money throughout the year."

Starting with an emotional speech from Diane Eulinger, attendees of the Relay took part in games, ate food and a browsed the silent auction before the weather forced the event to end. But that didn't stop the support from the community.

"(Friday night) we did get rained out," said Brown. "But we had the support of a lot of local businesses and community members throughout the year. Without all that support, we wouldn't be able to raise so much money to give to the American Cancer Society."

The week prior to the Relay, the color purple was on display everywhere as store fronts on Business Highway 50 and other areas of California and Moniteau County showed support for Relay For Life.

"I think with the community, it just shows everybody giving support," said Brown.

"This year we did Paint the Town Purple and the fact that so many businesses decorated their businesses," said Brown. "Things have progressed over the years, like last year we tried it, but this year to see everybody, you just see the support our community has for the survivors and the cancer patients that have lost the fight."

Tan-n-Go Video was announced as the winner of the Paint the Town Purple contest, and Nic Nac Cafe and C&R Supermarket was second and third, respectively. There 29 participates this year compared to just four last year.

For Brown, Relay For Life holds a special place in her heart. While the Relay has been an annual event in Moniteau County, it wasn't until 2010 that Brown got involved. Her niece was diagnosed in 2010, and she's had other family member battle cancer.

This was her second year as the event lead.

"It really means a lot to my family," said Brown. "I started relay because of my niece. She was diagnosed in 2010 in February and passed away in May. So I started relaying because of that, and I am now the event chair of it. This is why I relay. I love the fact that this many people can come out and be together and raise money for an excellence cause.

"I think that Relay For Life is a very good encouragement to the cancer survivors and caregivers that they are not the only ones fighting this battle. We as a community are right there with them."

Due to the weather, the Luminaria Service is rescheduled for Saturday at the new Riley Field located at California High School at 8:30 p.m.