Each year, hundreds of participants take to the track of Denison High School to raise funds for the American Cancer Society during the annual Relay For Life of Grayson County.
The event is part celebration, part slumber party and all about raising funds for cancer research. Last year, 69 teams participated in the event and organizers are hoping to raise that number to 75 this year.
“It’s all about growth,” said Team Recruitment Chairwoman Julie Baumgardner. “We want to grow the people. We want to grow the fundraising.”
Baumgardner said so far 50 teams have signed up for the May 18 event.
“Everybody wants to get involved. Everybody wants to feel good about finding a cause and raising money for it,” she said. “I think people are afraid sometimes because of all the pressure.”
Baumgardner said that’s not something participants in Relay For Life have to fear.
“One of the reasons this is my favorite fundraiser of all is because there is no pressure,” she said. “Yes, the American Cancer Society has goaled everybody who participates at $100, but it’s not one of those fundraiser that if you don’t make your goal, you have to put the money out of your own pocket.”
Baumgardner said it’s an easy fundraiser for busy participants. “The whole event, outside of the planning happens in a 12-hour period,” she said. “It’s one night that we can give to a great cause.”
Finally, finding sponsors is easy because the disease has impacted almost everyone in some way, Baumgardner said. “It’s pretty hard to find somebody who hasn’t been touched by cancer.”
Baumgardner said teams can range from one person to an infinite number. Creating one is as simple as visiting the Relay For Life of Grayson County web page (http://bit.ly/z29CRY) and signing-up. Participants can sign up any time until the actual event on May 18, but Baumgardner said it’s better for them to sign up as soon as possible.
