THE HOPE GROWS STRONGER

Jerry Camp, chairman for the Relay for Life committee in his second year said over $80,000 had been collected as of 10 p.m. but the figure was still going up. Camp said it takes a lot of volunteers and of course the over 34 teams and the countless donations to make this event a success. Camp said it would probably be over a week after the event before totals are realistic because donations will still be coming in next week. (photos top clockwise) Relay for Life kicked off with the survivor lap and the banner for the Wall of Hope. During the Luminary Ceremony which was sponsored by Halliburton in Memory of Dakota Lane Tate, Charlotte Heldenbrand, cancer survivor spoke to the 1000's on hand of what the event has meant to her. Arnolds cafe was doing a great business raising money for The American Cancer Society. Dr. Opal Stewart (center) who got this event started in 2002 enjoys a snack. The Conner family put up the cafe, Valerie, David, Aaron, Alyssa, Virgil, Gail, Brittany, Jerry, Rachel, Matthew, Pat, all Conners and of course Vicki, Robert and Krystal Nail, definitely a family effort in memory of Homer Conner who died of cancer in 1999. Brenna Foxworth came for the Poodle Skirt contest but parents Tina and Danny from Kilgore and part of the Citizens Bank team said they hoped she would still be awake at that time. The Wall of Hope banner was places so everyone involved in the Relay for Life could sign it. Carla Lynch (left) from Gladewater said she is a Celebrations of Hope ambassador will be taking the banner to Washington in Sept. where it will be displayed with 4000 other banners and part of a 10,000 volunteer support team to get Congress to put more support for finding a cure for cancer. Lynch said she had larynx cancer and has been cancer free now for five years. With the luminaries lit survivors, support members and sponsors had the opportunity to walk around the track and reflect on the event. (photos center clockwise) Brenda Thornhill and her International Babies from Kilgore College helped with the relay and raised money for The American Cancer Society during the year. Here Thornhill dances with Lane Niramolphisal (right) from Thailand and Misa Okubo from Japan, both students at KC. Also dancing with the group are Brannen Russell who raised over $2000 this year for The American Cancer Society with her favorite pig (blue skirt) and Allison Daniel. Jana Kay Bertrand from White Oak kept the crowd entertained along with Charlotte Mobbs from Kilgore. This was the fourth year for Relay for Life and made possible by sponsors like Halliburton, Citizens Bank, Ana-Lab, East Texas Lumber, Kilgore Ford, Kilgore National Bank, Capco Contractors Inc. and individual sponsors Lloyd and Evelyn Bolding, Steve and Penny Brown and Margaret Martin. This Relay was dedicated to the memory of Nancy Grisham. (News Herald Photos by Lester Murray)