Relay for Life underway
By GREG A. COLLINS for the News Herald

Kilgore Relay For Life, the fund raising event for the American Cancer Society, is just under three months away and gathering momentum as the annual festivity grows closer and closer.

Led by Rachel Conner, in her second year as chairman, the committee gathered Tuesday evening to update each other on the efforts for the 2008 drive. Kilgore has collected over $100,000 for ACS during each of the past two or three years and hopes to do it again this year.

The 2008 Relay For Life fund raiser is scheduled for Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 at the Kilgore Youth Softball and Soccer Complex on SH 135. The first lap will occur at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, and the final walkers will leave the course at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Relay For Life involves teams walking and taking part in events through the night because cancer never sleeps. The first Relay For Life involved a doctor in the Northwest running all through the night with sponsors paying him per lap.

Kilgore's Relay For Life has generated nearly $500,000 in donations for the American Cancer Society, and the efforts of Kilgore residents through the years has made the local relay one of the best in East Texas.

Conner is hoping that streak will continue in 2008. She has put together a team of veteran Relay workers, combined with a few newcomers, to hopefully top the $100,000 mark in donations once again.

Claud Wallace is working on donations from corporate people, and the committee is hopeful he will see a lot of support. A good number of Kilgore and area companies and civic leaders have stepped up in the past to help Kilgore's fund raising be successful, and Wallace is once again asking local entities to dig deep into their pockets and help out.

April Watson and Linda Sartor are seeking teams for the fund raising event. Thus far, the number of teams is hovering around 20, but the committee is hopeful to add to that number before too long.

Each team consists of 15 people. The team pays a fee of $100 for an adult team or $50 for a student team to participate, and then hopefully each team member can raise at least $100 to donate to ACS.

Teams will also have fund raisers that involve the general public during the next few months. This gives all of Kilgore a chance to participate in the fund raising. And, most the money that Kilgore raises will come back to this area to help those fighting cancer or for cancer prevention education efforts.

"Kilgore has been successful because cancer touches all of our lives," one committee member said. "It is important that we continue to raise money to find a cure for cancer. And, wouldn't it be wonderful if the dollar that helps find the cure was raised right here in Kilgore. It could happen."