RAIN OR SHINE ...

MOLLY SKYLES
Assistant Editor

RED OAK — With more than 5,000 communities across the country participating in American Cancer Society Relay For Life events, passion for the cause is on no short supply. Friday’s Montgomery County Relay For Life put its participant’s passion to the test, though, as they braved the elements, indoors and out.

With rain throughout the day and predictions of more severe storms into the evening, the typically outdoor event was moved into the high school. Booths were set up in the gymnasium; luminarias lined the stage in the auditorium and relayers formed their own tracks through the school’s hallways, which were full of desks and chairs moved to accommodate summer cleaning and repairs.

‘It’s a little chaotic right now,” Charla Schmid, the event co-chair said Friday evening. “But, it’s amazing how people come together for the cause.”

Schmid said the weather might have affected the turnout a little bit, but the 23 teams present had high energy and were still donating to meet the event’s goal. Last year’s goal was $48,637 and $40,545 was raised. The goal this year is $49,700, which they have until August to reach. As of midnight Friday they had raised $42,695 to give to the American Cancer Society to help find a cure for cancer.  

As the evening progressed, the sky began to clear and slowly people began to make their way outdoors. At first just a few walkers were lapping their way around the circle drive in front of the school, likely to avoid the congestion of the hallways. By about 8:30 p.m., lawn chairs filled the grassy area in front of the building, multiple teams had moved their booths outside and even the DJ set up his equipment outside.

The members of the Farmers Mutual Television Company/Boosom Buddies team were among the first to make the switch.

“This event was meant to be outside. If it starts to rain we’ll just pack up and move back inside; it wasn’t that hard,” said Jacque Bates, a 10 year Hodgkin’s Disease survivor from Stanton and member of the FMTC/Boosom Buddies team said.

Bates and her team had been planning and fundraising for this event since January and have been participating in Relay For Life events since 2002 and she said a little rain would not stop them making the most of the event.  

“It turned out to be a great event,” Schmid said. “Moving outside was a great decision. It relieved congestion and improved moral. We even had a few teams stick it out and walk up until midnight.”

The Relay for Life committee is still accepting donations to give to the American Cancer Society. If interested, mail checks to Charla Schmid at UPS at 2027 Fernwood Ave.